The memorial service for Marian, of Rapid City, South Dakota, formerly of Aberdeen, South Dakota, will be 1:00pm, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, with PASTOR officiating. Marian Joy Sperry was born on January 12, 1934, in Aberdeen, SD to Allen and Esther (James) Sperry. Marian passed away on January 29, 2026, only 17 days after her birthday at the age of 21+ (that’s what she always said if asked her age).

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

In the 40’s Marian was active in the Bath Busy Bee 4H Club doing demonstrations and offering various entries into county and state fairs. Marian graduated from Bath High School in 1951 at which time she was noted by both faculty and peers as being a hard working student. The Stylus (High School Yearbook) depicted her as having “ideas by the carload”.

Marian graduated from South Dakota State College in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in science and applied art. In 1955 her softball team, sponsored by Erlich Jewelry, won the state women’s softball tournament by defeating Sioux Falls. She wouldn’t stop playing even though she had a broken finger. After graduation, Marian took a Physical education position with the Orono, MN Independent School District high school as a physical education teacher where she worked for two years.

On September 28th, 1957 Marian married Robert (Mick) F. Miller, US Army, and moved to Huntsville Alabama where Robert Jr. was born. Mick was stationed in Korea for a year after which they moved to Boston, MA where son Steve was born. Mick earned his master’s degree in Electronics Engineering and was transferred to Arizona. In 1963, after only six years of marriage, Mick passed away suddenly so Marian and her boys moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The house she was able to purchase in CO needed a lot of work; no real yard, ant hills and stickers, and so forth. She always thought the yard was a good project to keep her busy. Over all the years she managed to fix up the yard, build a number of sheds and develop a 3-season patio mostly with her own effort and materials either donated or scavenged. Quit wasn’t in her vocabulary.

In Colorado, it was necessary for her to return to work, no teaching jobs were available, so she took a bookkeeping job. With the help of a CPA’s referrals, she was hired by a number of small businesses for month-end accounting work and Miller Bookkeeping was born.

In Colorado her best friend, Jean Dickson, signed her up for a bowling tournament in which they did very well. Marian figured out bowling offered relaxation, entertainment, and the opportunity to win a pot or two during tournaments which helped pay for groceries. In 1994 Marian was inducted into the Colorado Springs Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame. As a pastime she also collected stamps, played piano and computer games, cheated at Yahtzee, played Bridge with friends, and managed to make a haul, on occasion, at local gaming establishments. She found enjoyment traveling for bowling tournaments and with family members, white water rafting, and even riding a motorcycle around the Black Hills during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Her real joy was experiencing new things, visiting with neighbors, family, friends and even the occasional stranger.

Marian is survived by her two sons (Rob & Steve), Granddaughter (Krysta), two Great grandkids (Evan & Addie), and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families. She will be missed but not forgotten.

Marian is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Miller, parents, Allen and Esther Sperry, and her stepmother, Marjorie Sperry.