Anyone that knew Milton Grove Miner, knew that he was a storyteller. He would tell colorful stories from his full life to those he loved, and even the occasional stranger or cashier at the local grocery store. Some would say that his story ended on the morning of June 6, 2021, when he passed from this life at the age of 85. But those that knew him well, know that his story doesn’t end with his passing.
Milton’s story began on November 12, 1935, in Dearing, Kansas, when he was born to Florence Grant and Alonzo Miner. In his childhood home of Dearing, his grandfather was the postmaster, his grandmother was the pianist at the United Brethren Church, and his mother worked at the local diner where Milton remembered eating many meals. Though his grandmother tried to teach him to play the piano, Milton always found that he would rather spend his time fishing or hunting crawdads in Onion Creek, or picking apples from their small, family orchard.
Though Milton never went to college, he was an exceptionally bright student, often confounding his schoolteachers with his ability to solve complex math equations in his head, or with unique, creative approaches to problems. His love for solving puzzles and problems served him well when he served in the U.S. Army as a cryptographer, being stationed for two years in Hawaii. Over the years, Milton would also work at the Safeway in Coffeyville, and for the Coffeyville Municipal Light & Power Department for 37 years.
But Milton’s story would change forever when he met his wife, Shirley Majors in 1951. The two would be married on June 26, 1955. They wanted to be married on June 25, but he wasn’t allowed to take off work on a Saturday, so the couple would be married on Sunday. They would buy a house on John Street in Coffeyville in 1960, after returning home from Hawaii, where they would raise two daughters, Denise, and Amy, and spend the rest of their lives filling the home with the sounds of laughter, love, and warmth.
You see, Milton’s story does not end with his passing because he lives on in the hearts of his family. They will remember his stories fondly. They will continue to feel the warmth of his smile many years from now. And, they will pass down from this generation to the next, the many lessons of kindness, comfort, and care they learned from his example. His story continues through his daughter, Denise and her husband Cliff Krumwiede of Claremore, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Cassie Romberg, Jacob Krumwiede, Kara Peters, Kelsie O’Brien, Kala Schneider, Benjamin Krumwiede, Kristi Abbey, Katie Conrad, Jedidiah Krumwiede, Kale Krumwiede, Kwinn Krumwiede, Erik Blagg, Andy Blagg, Brandon Blagg, and Tara Wilson; brother Robert and his wife Phyllis.
In his final days, Milton was heard saying that he had “lived a good life,” but he missed his wife, Shirley, who preceded him in death on July 20, 2020. In addition to Shirley, Milton was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Nordene McDaniel and Priscilla Betley, his daughter, Amy Blagg, and grandson Kyler Blagg.
Funeral Services will be at 1pm on Friday, June 11, 2021, at First Southern Baptist Church, 2701 W 8th St., Coffeyville, Kansas 67337 with Pastor Rich Jenkins officiating. The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 10 from 6 to 8pm at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville. The family has requested memorial contributions be made payable to First Southern Baptist Church Senior Ministries. To leave an online message of condolence visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com
