Gervin O. "Sony" Miller

Gervin O. “Sony” Miller, 88, of St. Paul, died Sunday, April 29, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Revs. Ray Kosmicki and James Murphy will officiate. The family requests that everyone dress casually. Inurnment will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. There will be no visitation. Mr. Miller chose to have his body cremated. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Miller was born on Jan. 6, 1924, at Grand Island, the son of Gervine H. and Elizabeth ( Ewoldt Opp) Miller. He is survived by his wife, Mary L. Miller of St. Paul; one daughter, Mary Kay Kucera and her husband, Gary of Brainard; three sons, James E. Miller and his wife, Betty and Larry S. Miller and his wife, Mary Jo, all of Belgrade, and Gavin O. Miller and Stephanie Monroe of Tulsa, OK; four step-children, Todd Berney of Grand Island, Billy Berney of Hastings, Robert Berney of Phillips and Kim Bowen of St. Paul; four sisters, Mary Hlavinka of McCook, Beverly Landers of Ashton, Bette Lou Dew of Hallsboro, NC and Sandra Hart Miller of Lincoln; and one brother and sister-in-law, Walter and Darlene Miller of Sutherland. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. As a young child Gervin moved with his family to the Tarnov area and later to a farm at Horace, near Scotia, where he attended school. He married Mary Ellen Berney in Nov. 1944, at Greeley. The couple farmed near Belgrade for 37 years. He married Mary L. Brouwer on Jan. 14, 1983, at St. Paul.The couple lived in St. Paul their entire married life. Gervin continued to farm near Belgrade, Cedar Rapids and St. Paul and worked at Monforts in Grand Island for several years. He also drove school bus in Wolbach and St. Paul and the Special Education Van in St. Paul and Grand Island. Also for the last 30 years, the couple delivered the Omaha World Herald and Grand Island Independent. Gervin was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. He enjoyed collecting toy tractors and loved Oliver and Minneapolis-Moline tractors. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and he will be greatly missed by his shadow and constant companion, his beloved dog, Mitzy. He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant sons. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.