The Bitterroot lost a firecracker, Veronica “Vonnie” Evelyn Miller passed away on February 17, 2023. She was born on September 18, 1923, in Perth Australia to Minnie Eloise Scott and Walter Lawrence Scott. She had a brother Aaron and sister Patricia. Vonnie met a young submariner from Montana who was stationed at the Fremantle Submarine Repair Shop on a blind date named John Miller. If you ever saw the pictures of her in her younger days, she was a fiery redhead, and you could see why John pursued her. They married in Perth, Australia on April 4, 1945. She said that when she and John started out, she cooked a casserole every night. It was after a week that he told her he did not like casseroles. From that point on, she worked hard to become a very good cook. They had a son, John, born on April 2, 1946. They then moved from Australia to Montana in May of 1946, and lived at the ranch up the Burnt Fork Canyon at the Forgey Place. It was there that she learned about ranch life as they lived in the bunk house and had no indoor plumbing and that was a big adjustment for her. She did not enjoy living up there because it was so remote and rustic. Vonnie said that it was difficult being a “war bride” and said it was tough making friends and being accepted in the community. Then on June 18, 1948, they welcomed a second son, Scott. She said she never rode a horse and never learned to milk a cow. She did however, learn how to drive, and it was always an adventure with her behind the wheel. They sold the ranch up the Burnt Fork Canyon and moved to a ranch off Miller Hill Road on the South Burnt Fork Road. There they welcomed a third son, Harry, on September 1, 1958. She learned to really love being a ranch wife. She would cook for her family and the ranch help where she really refined her cooking skills. If you were fortunate enough to work for John, then you ate like a king when she cooked. She also became active in the Bitterroot Cowbells for over 50 years and was president of the club for many of those years. She was also politically active and member of the Pachyderm Club, the Rocky Mountain Grange and the Montana Federation of Women Club and was always up for a good debate. If you knew Vonnie, you never had to guess what was on her mind or what she was thinking. She spoke what was on her mind whether you liked it or not. She was always up for a visit at the ranch and would share a cup of coffee or cocoa with you or a large glass of iced tea. When John and Scott left to serve in the Vietnam War, she started to learn to paint. She painted the grist mill from the ranch up the canyon and it became a center of attention in her dining room, and it was even featured in the local paper. She loved to watch golf and never golfed a day in her life. When asked why she watched golf, she said she loved to listen to the Aussie golfers and hear their Aussie accents and it would remind her of home. If you wanted to see Vonnie in town, she could be found at Ramona’s Hair salon getting her hair done and working to keep the red in her hair. Then on September 2, 1992, her husband John lost his battle with cancer. She took great pride in the ranch, and it was a tough decision to sell it and move into town. She would always talk about it and what a great life it was for her and John and their family. She also missed her Angus cows. She loved her grandkids and enjoyed having them come visit and share their adventures and stories with her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Aaron, and her husband John and her daughter-in-law Bunny Miller. She is survived by her sister Patricia, her son John, son Scott (Debbie) and son Harry (Linda), grandkids- David (Candice), Andy, Don, Sarah (Jon), Brian (Robin), Jessica, Rebecca (Josh), Stephanie, Elizabeth, Allisa (Devin), Harry, and Virginia and 17 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. She will be cremated, and a graveside service will be held on a later date in Stevensville.