Glen Eman Miller

Glen Miller, 69 of Devils Lake formerly of Lawton and Minot, ND passed away on Good Friday morning, March 29, 2024, at REM in the loving care of staff, family, and Hospice. 

Mass of Chrisitan Burial will be on Easter Monday, April 1, 2024, at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. A Rosary will be recited at 9:15 a.m. prior to the funeral Mass also at the church. Services will be live streamed at Facebook.com/stjosephdvl
 
 Glen Eman Miller was born to Vernon J. and Agnes A. (Hejlik) Miller on January 29, 1955, in Devils Lake. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Edmore, ND. Glen was baptized and received the Sacraments of Initiation at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, rural Webster. At a very young age, Glen had cerebral meningitis, and several bouts with pneumonia. Our father taught Glen about arithmetic and money.

Glen attended the one room Cato township (Ramsey County) school sporadically, and then attended speech therapy classes with Mrs. Florence Lake for many years. With school district reorganization in 1961, Glen was able to attend special education classes in Devils Lake Public Schools. He belonged to a Cub Scout Den for disabled boys that our Mother and other parents headed up. He learned to read from Dr. Suess books. He made friends easily among his classmates and other students. He would attend Camp Grassick camps in the summer. Glen had a grand mal seizure when he was 17 and began a regimen of heavier medication that seemed to take a slow toll on his well-being.

When he was younger, he had a photographic memory of times, dates and places and could recall details from family events for years, including high and low temperature, wind speed and direction, whether it was sunny or cloudy and which family members were present. At Mass he would listen to every announcement and if the Priest would say in closing, “Did this event get announced? Glen would reply loudly, “Yes,” with a tone of voice like “Weren’t you listening?” At 17 years of age, he moved to a sheltered workshop - Minot Vocational Workshop. He learned to make various beautiful macrame creations, which our Mom sold and distributed. He also was trained and enjoyed doing janitorial work at many locations in Minot. Because of a judge's decision to the effect that mentally challenged persons deserved to be in the least restrictive environment they were capable of, Glen was removed from the workshop and put into an apartment, first in Minot, then in Devils Lake at the Great Northern Building. This turned out to be not in Glen’s best interests, and it was determined that he would benefit from living in a Group Home with 24-hour staff, added assistance and more social contact. Lake Region Corporation (Devils Lake) group homes became his residences.

He received wages doing vacuuming and other janitorial work around the town. He also was enrolled at LRC Day Program for a few years and worked at Community Options. At one time he was a client also and most recently Glen has been with REM Corporation (Devils Lake) in a group home with staff and other individuals. Glen was a person who cared not a whit of other’s opinions of him - one of those who marched to the tune of his own drum beats!

He was at his finest when he was out and about and able to wave and say “Hi” to others he recognized. Or, while riding around town with staff or family, making comments when he recognized the car or home of a staff member or friend. In the past Glen read the local paper daily for information regarding new building projects, or obituaries of someone he might know. Annual parish meals (fall suppers) and fundraiser meals were also treasured events for Glen, as he thoroughly enjoyed eating. He always had to be first in line. (now we can chuckle about that). Glen had his own "chauffeur" who drove him around town to do various tasks. Those were Glen's glory days! They would frequently stop at the "Ice Cream Parlor" at Heartland Care Center. A favorite pastime his whole life was clock watching - aware of upcoming activities, or medication distribution times. Staff and housemates knew what was on the agenda because Glen broadcast the schedule or staffing shifts often loudly and insistently, always confidently - which was not always welcomed or appreciated!

The softness of his heart could be seen when someone was sick, and he declared: “I’ll pray for you.” He attended St. Joseph’s Church in Devils Lake when he was able, thanks to staff assistance. At one time he belonged to the Knights of Columbus. We offer our profound THANKS and esteem to all the staff from LRC, REM, the State, and medical personnel, and most recently Hospice, who have served Glen’s many needs throughout the years. The quality of care, concern and love shown - through many very difficult periods in Glen's life - have been extraordinary.

Glen was predeceased by his parents. Surviving are sister Susan Hoffert (Mark), rural Rugby, ND, and brother Dennis Miller (Judy), rural Lawton, ND, seven nieces and nephews and 17 grand-nieces and grand nephews.