Obit: Miller, Billie-Lea (1920 - 1946)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Miller

----Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.) 12/21/1946

Miller, Billie-Lea (25 OCT 1920 - 10 DEC 1946)

Billie-Lea Miller, son of Leslie and Harriette Miller, was born Oct. 25, 1920, in Barron, Wis., at the home of his grandparents; the same grandparents who pioneered near Merrillan sixty years ago.  The boy entered school at the age of seven, in Rock Springs, Wyo., where his father was teaching.  He later moved with his parents to Villa Park, Ill. and graduated from the junior high school where his father was principal.  He entered York Community High School at Elmhurst, Ill., and graduated at the age of sixteen.  During his high school days he played in the York Community High School band.  After high school he entered Elmhurst College and spent two years there.  The young man left college and came to Jackson County because he was interested in farming.

Early in 1945 he was called to the colors and spent a year in service.  Most of his time was spent in "special service" at Indian Town Gap in Pennsylvania.

Soon after his release, Billie-Leo became a flying enthusiast, and had enough flying time, both duel and solo, to qualify for a private pilot’s license, but work on the granting of that license had been delayed.  He came to his death in an accident Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 10, 1946.

That which his friends like to remember was his interest in Christian work.  He taught Sunday school classes in Humbird and Merrillan and worked with young peoples groups in Merrillan and Black River Falls, and young peoples’ camps at Chetek and Camp Bradfield.  He had a keen sense of humor and a sunny disposition.

Funeral services were held at both Merrillan and Barron.  In both place the American Legion members participated in the services.  At Barron where interment took place Sunday, a plane circled over the field and dipped in salute as though symbolic of the Great Pilot, who tests all.