R.J. "Buster" Miller, 88, of Bowman, ND, passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center in Bowman.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 31, 2014 at the St. Charles Catholic Church, Bowman, ND. Fr. David Morman will celebrate the Mass with burial to follow in the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Amidon, ND, at 2:00 p.m. There will be a Rosary and Scripture Service on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the St. Charles Catholic Church beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Roland J. (Buster) Miller was born January 16, 1926 to Roland and Anna Pauline (Brandner) Miller in Bowman. The eldest of four brothers, the family resided on the family ranch six miles northwest of Amidon.
He attended first grade in Amidon, but then went to Sandcreek for the next seven years. He attended St. Mary's High School in New England, and upon graduation, enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943. He was stationed in Seattle, WA and served aboard the USS Richmond. He traveled all over the Pacific Ocean, stopping at the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, the Kurile Islands near Japan, and Panama. He was then transferred to the USS Enterprise, on which he was stationed during the bombing of Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and enrolled at Dickinson State College. In 1948 he returned home to the ranch by Amidon.
He married Marvis Johnson on October 16, 1950 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Amidon. To this union, eight children were born. He was proud of his two sons and six daughters, and Buster always said, "Eight is enough!" They farmed and ranched near Amidon for over thirty years. He and Marvis then bought a home in Bowman in 1979, although he didn't completely retire from the ranch until 1988, when he turned the ranch over to his son, Gary. In the early 90's, he began work for the Bowman Economic Development Corporation. He always talked about all the great people he met and had the opportunity to work with-- he thoroughly enjoyed his job! He had a gift to gab with a good sense of humor, and was always ready for good conversation. By the end of a conversation, you knew what his opinion was!
Buster and Marvis also traveled during their retirement. They did different tours of the United States, seeing the Southwest Region, the New England States, and Hawaii. They also boarded a cruise ship and saw various parts of Mexico. They also enjoyed trips to Deadwood, where they were usually lucky playing the slots.
Buster was very active in the communities where he lived. He served as a Slope County Deputy Sheriff under Elmer Morland; a 4-H Club Leader; Sandcreek Township Assessor and Clerk; Amidon Fire Department Secretary; and a member of the Amidon School Board, North Dakota Stockmen's Association, American Legion Post 66 of New England, Sunset Care Board, and the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Amidon and later St. Charles Catholic Church in Bowman.
Buster was an avid sports fan and athlete. He played baseball and bowled for more than thirty years, and then coached and umped softball for his daughters for many years after that. He loved NASCAR, the Green Bay Packers, and the New York Yankees, but watched all teams in the NFL and MLB. He really enjoyed playing fantasy football with his good friend Tom Nordberg. His end table was covered with his careful notes and stats of NFL players as late as this October. He was also a competitive card player, favoring pinochle and whist.
He was known by many as "Grandpa Buster," due to the fact that he had twenty-three grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren. He enjoyed going to their various sporting events. Always proud of them, they were his pride and joy.
He was survived by his wife, Marvis; sons, Gary (Stacey) Miller, Amidon; Shad Miller, Bismarck; daughters, Michell (Warren) Flath, Bowman; Karen (Wayne) Gerbig, Amidon; Rene (Bob) Whalen, Hamilton, MT; Rhonda Buer (Joe Hofmann), Huntley, MT; Brenda (Chris) Palczewski, Bowman; son-in law Aaron (Peggy) Allen, Bowman; twenty-three grandchildren; and twenty-one great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Janet Allen; his parents, Roland and Pauline; and his brothers, Clarence, Bumps, and infant brother Michael.