Mrs. Miller was born Merle Dean Blacker on Jan 15, 1926, in Ray County, Mo. She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene B. “Gene” Miller, in 2004; five sisters; and a brother.

Survivors include a son, Christopher and wife Rita of Newton; three daughters, Sherry Peterson and husband John of Phoenix, Jennifer Brown of Salina and Tamra Hardinger and husband Kerry of Overland Park; 13 grandchildren, Eric Peterson and wife Brandy and Christine Cooper and husband Dave, Tim Peterson and Blair Brown, all of Phoenix, Jessica Senn and husband Shane and Samuel Miller and Oliver Miller, all of Newton, Lauren Brown of Lebanon, Ore., Ashley Guerra and husband Andy of Kansas City, Mo., Jayson Brown of Salina, Aimee Hardinger, Kendall Hardinger and Alyssa Hardinger, all of Overland Park; and 13 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at University United Methodist Church, 1509 S. Santa Fe, Salina. Burial will be in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina.

Memorials may be made to the church.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.