Rodger A. Miller

AIKEN, SC – Mr. Rodger A. Miller, 82, passed away peacefully Tuesday, November 15, 2022. He died at home surrounded by his loving family.

Rodger was raised on a small farm in eastern North Dakota, but his life-long love was the prairie and badlands of western North Dakota.  He was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Greenland, helping to build the “City Under The Ice” and a lifelong educator. 

Rodger is survived by his wife Carole, son Vachel (Sarah) and grandchildren Galen, Sidra and Caspian in Boone, NC, son Cache (Mia) and grandchildren Penelope and Julia in Charlotte, NC, daughter Alyce (Patrick) and grandchildren Aidan and Sophia in Aiken, SC, daughter Olivia Dorsey in Wilmington, NC, sister Mary and niece Cassie in Florida, and loving friends in many states.

Professionally, Rodger held a specialist degree in Special Education, serving as both county and state director of Special Education in North Dakota.  In Augusta, Georgia, he was a unit director at Gracewood Hospital.

Rodger had a long love affair with words, writing stories and poetry.  As long as he was able, he loved hunting, fishing, golfing, doing yard work and photography, especially with his drone!  Rodger embraced new technology.  He followed politics and world events closely, and global warming was a main focus for Rodger for many years.  His life force will truly be missed by so many–his sparkling blue eyes and ready smile were ever-present. 

Family was of utmost importance to Rodger, who always found just the right article or bit of news to share or book to discuss.  During his active Aiken years, he was past president of Lifelong Learning, a golfer, and member of both a stock club and the Aiken Poetry Society.  St. Gerard’s Catholic Church in Aiken was his church home.

Rodger was a “reverse snowbird”, spending summer and fall in Marmarth, North Dakota in the Badlands.  His constant companion of fourteen years was his dog Koda (“friend” in Lakota), who accompanied him on all his adventures.  Rodger had a wonderful, fun-loving, risk-taking personality and quirky, self-deprecating sense of humor.  As a long-time administrator, a clipboard and agenda were always in his hand. He made little small talk, and was always seeing and ready to talk about the “Big Picture.”

Rodger’s funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, November 26th, 2022, 11:00 am at St. Gerard’s Catholic Church in Aiken, SC.  Lunch in the Community Room will follow the service.  Interment of ashes will be in the summer of 2023 in the Veterans’ Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.

All memorial donations will be given to charities in Rodger’s name.

SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC. 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801