Alvin James Miller Sr., 91, Fairview, MT

Funeral services were Saturday June 1, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sidney, MT, with Bishop Austin Harrison officiating. A luncheon will follow the service. Alvin will be laid to rest at the Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, ND. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Sidney, MT, is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com.

Alvin James Miller was born Oct. 29, 1932, in Dore, ND, To William Gustave Miller and Sarah Mae Vanderhoof Miller. He was the second of 15 children. He joined the Marines in 1952, that was where he learned to be an auto mechanic.

He married Doris Leone Isbell on Sept. 10, 1955. They had four children: Jesse Robert Miller, Alvena (Vena) Gail Miller Mecklenburg, Katherine Lynn Miller Cardon, and Alvin James Miller Jr.

At age 15, he worked at Jack Berry's farm. He worked at all of the gas stations in Fairview. He was a custodian at East Fairview School. This is also when he started his first bus route. Alvin and Doris also started a grocery store on States Street called Al and Dee Market. He also worked at Super Valu in between bus routes. He did custom swathing and baling for many farmers in the valley with his sons. His rows were straight, and his bales were tight. He was very careful to watch for just the right time to cut and bale for each farmer.

Miller Bus Lines was a great business for him. He had eight routes which included Rau, Savage, East and West side Fairview Schools, along with Culbertson, and Girard. He also did the migrant routes for 25 years. He drove buses and worked on them for 52 years doing activity trips, class trips and music festivals.

In 1968, they started selling fireworks out of the bus and did that for 32 years. Alvin and Doris took over the famous City Cafe for Bob and Beth Isbell who owned it. He also bought and rebuilt the building we called Short Circuit. It was a cafe and game room. He did this while doing bus runs. Alvin worked for Holly Sugar in Dore and was in charge of the beet piler.

He was also considered the mayor of East Side and was in charge of the sewer system and keeping the books.

He has done so many things and helped so many people quietly without ever expecting or wanting anything, just happy he could help them. He died at the age of 91 still driving and helping everyone he could.

Alvin passed away peacefully on Monday May 27, 2024, at the Sidney Health Center, Sidney, MT, with family by his side.

He is survived by his children Jesse, Vena, Kathy, and Alvin Jr; his brothers Fred and Robert; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife Doris; his grandson Ricky; his great grandson Atlie; his parents William and Sarah; and brothers and sisters Bill, Ruby, twins Veron (Bub) and Verna, Virgil, Rose, Rollie, Melvin, and Larry.