Longtime Valentine businessman, John Miller, passed away on October 6, 2025, at home surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer. John Howard Miller was born in Valentine, NE on June 6, 1953, to Howard and Sally Miller.

He grew up enjoying hunting and fishing near the Mill Pond and Minnechaduza Creek. John graduated from Valentine High School in 1972 and from the University of Nebraska in 1977 with a degree in business accounting.

After graduation, he moved to Montana where he met and married his wife of 44 years, Lila. In 1984, they bought Coast to Coast Hardware Store in Dickinson, North Dakota which they managed together until 1998 when they purchased Coast to Coast (later called True Value Hardware) in Valentine, NE. They operated this business until September 2025.

John was well suited to the hardware business because it brought him great joy to help assist his customers and friends. John enjoyed both open water and ice fishing and especially liked deer hunting in the fall. He also liked wine-making, target shooting of all types, and woodworking.

In the community, John was involved in the Cherry County Hospital Foundation, Sandhills Investment Syndicate, and the Valentine Library Board.

John is survived by his wife Lila, sons Taylor, Marshall (Jae Lynn), and Luke Miller and three grandchildren Jace and Aida Miller and Noah Miller all of Valentine. Other survivors include his siblings Margy Miller of Englewood CO, Thomas Miller of Portland, OR, Toby Miller (Martha) of Sioux Falls, SD and Barb Schriner (Loren) of Williamsburg, VA, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, a nephew, and a great niece and nephews. He will be greatly missed by his family as well as his friends and customers.

Memorial service for long time Valentine businessman, John Miller age 72 of Valentine, will be held on Friday, Oct. 17, at 2:00 PM at the Valentine Methodist Church.  A private family burial will be held at Mt Hope Cemetery in Valentine.  No visitation will be held.  Mr. Miller passed away on Oct. 6, 2025, in Valentine.