LiaRuth Miller

Lia Miller, 64, of Des Moines, Iowa, and formerly of Anita, died Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. 

LiaRuth was born on December 19, 1958, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of James Burton and Jeannette May (Hood) Miller.  She grew up in rural Anita and graduated from Anita High School in 1977.  Following graduation, she moved to Des Moines and worked various jobs before taking a job with the State of Iowa, working in different departments but most of her 12 years was spent with the Iowa Department of Transportation and Recertification. 

Lia was an active member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Des Moines, helping out in any way she could which included anything from working in the office to leading services.  Lia was very involved in several outreach programs the church offered and looked forward to trips the United Methodist Women would take.   She was the true example of what a neighbor should be; taking a great amount of pride in caring for those around her which included being the neighborhood “UBER” for work, medical appointments, and other various trips so that her “neighborhood family” wouldn’t miss out.  Lia served on many roles within the neighborhood association.

She loved reading a good mystery and playing games on her phone; often joking she was quite the farmer.  Lia was so proud of her nieces and nephews and loved them like her own.  Her family didn’t have words to express how much joy Lia brought to their lives but felt some online condolences summed her up well: huggable, always happy, welcoming, ray of sunshine, amazing lady, gave great hugs, full of love, upbeat, loved people, giving and always willing to help.  No matter how tired Lia was, she was there for others!

Lia’s zest for life will be deeply missed by all who knew her including her siblings, Holly Swain, Russell Miller, Gordon Miller and Dianne (Mark) Kepford; many nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and many extended family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Jeannette Miller; brothers, George Harley Miller and Wendall Warren Miller; infant sisters, Shirley Miller and April Faye Miller; and niece, Beverly Swain.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic, with Pastor Jerry Neal of the United Congregational Methodist Church in Lewis officiating.  Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.  Visitation with the family present will be held one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the funeral home, starting at 1:00 p.m.

The service will be recorded and available on the funeral home website by noon on Wednesday.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Lia’s family and her arrangements.  Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.