Richard Wayne Miller 82, of Denton, Kansas died Friday, August 26th, 2016 at the Mosaic Life Center, St. Joseph, MO.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at St. Benedicts Church, Bendena, KS with Fr. Francis Bakyor as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Benedict’s Cemetery, Bendena. A  Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, August 30th at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Atchison KS with visitation to follow until 8:30pm.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Richard W. Miller Engineering Endowment Fund or  Dorothy L. (Joyce) Miller Nursing Endowment Fund for Benedictine College and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Richard was born on Dec. 25th, 1933 at his home in Doniphan County, KS the son of Charles S. and Edna Mae (Fleek) Miller. He attended St. Joseph Grade School, Wathena, KS, graduated from Maur-Hill Prep, Atchison in 1951 and attended Delmar Community College, Corpus Christi, TX. Richard served in the United States Navy from May of 1952 to May of 1974.  He was employed starting in 1975 by Midway Schools, and worked for over 20 years. Richard was a farmer and raised livestock.  Mr. Miller was an active member at St. Benedict’s Church, Bendena, was the sexton for St. Benedict’s Cemetery, and was a 3rd & 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight, Faithful Navigator, and District Deputy. He was also very active in the Boy Scouts of America, having served as Scoutmaster for Troop 161, Corpus Christi, TX and later at Troop 53, Atchison and the Atchison Wagon Wheel Troops. He was a Woodbadge Trained Leader, was a past Kanza District Chairman, and served on the Pony Express Council Executive Board of Directors, BSA. He was a member of the Order of the Arrow, and an Honorary Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. He was a member of the American Legion, the Fleet Reserve Association, the U.S. Navy Memorial Club, the American Herford Association, the Kansas Farm Bureau Association, and the Good Sam’s Club.  Richard was a recipient of the Kanza District, Thinker Award, and Award of Merit, the Pony Express Council, BSA Silver Beaver Award. Richard enjoyed gardening, Ponies in Harness and raising livestock.

Richard was married to Dorothy L. Joyce on December 27, 1955 at St. Benedicts Church, Bendena, KS. She preceded him in death on May 25, 2005.  Survivors include two sons, Richard D. and his wife, Julie Miller, Lawrence, KS; Patrick C.  and his wife, Sheri Miller, Milford, MI; two daughters, Barbara A. and her husband, Blaine Holder, Atchison, KS, and Deborah S. and her husband, David VanLaar, Denton,KS; three brothers, Burnace G .(Linda) Miller, Lancaster, KS, Melvin C. (Ruth) Miller, Atchison, and Ronald A. (Anita) Miller, Atchison KS; five sisters, Ellen Mae Hickman, Atchison, KS, Carol Jean (Hershal) Keithline, Piper, KS, Ethel Elaine ”Sug” McQuire, Atchison, KS, Eunice Arlene ”Dolly” (Raymond) Fesperman, Dove Canyon, CA, and Mary Lynn Geisendorf, Hiawatha, KS; twelve grandchildren, Melissa (Scott) Patrick, Bryan (Nikki) Holder, Brooke(Brandon) Wilcox, Brad (Alisha) Holder, Andy Miller, Whitney(Nick) Jones, Erin(David) Metsker ,Eric (Megan) Miller, Heather Miller, Josh VanLaar, Jacob VanLaar, Parker Miller and four great grandchildren, Nolan Patrick, Mason Jones, Haper Wilcox, Charlotte Jones and (Baby) Wilcox.