Stephen Douglas Miller

Stephen Douglas Miller,77, passed away December 21, 2023, in Cheyenne, WY at the Davis Hospice Center. He was born March 27, 1946, in Greeley, CO. 
 
Steve is survived by his wife, Bonnie; sons, Jason (Jamie) Wichita, KS, Eric (Stacy) Cheyenne, WY; sister, Dianne Brown, Johnstown, CO; grandchildren, McKinley, Addyson, and Henry; and numerous nieces and nephews.   
 
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy Jane Miller and Niles Stephen Miller, and brother-in-law, Gregory Brown. 
 
Steve grew up in Platteville, CO, spending time on the family dairy farm. He shared many stories of playing with his cousins and working with his grandpa, uncle, and dad. Steve decided early on that milking cows was not for him. 
 
Steve graduated from Valley High School, Platteville, CO (1964). He obtained his BS (1968) from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Steve attended North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, earning his MS (1970) and PhD (1973). For 12 years, Steve enjoyed a faculty appointment at NDSU. 
 
In 1984, Steve joined the faculty at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He was academic advisor to 65 graduate students (39 earning their MS and 26 their PhD). He was dedicated to the research of weed control in crops at the UW Research Stations. Steve published more than 70 research articles in peer-reviewed journals. He was a member of the Western Society of Weed Science (President 1993), the North Central Weed Science Society (President 2006), and the Weed Science Society of America. Steve worked closely with the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council. He was well known and respected among fellow scientists and crop producers across the western states. In 2005, he was appointed Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, and Director of UW Research Stations. Steve retired in 2010, after 26 years with UW.  To some, Steve was more than a professor or mentor.  He was a larger-than-life man in suspenders.  He wasn't afraid to get dirty, and loved to be out in the fields, working alongside his students. Steve never had trouble being heard, his booming voice was unmistakable. 
 
During his career, Steve was honored to receive many awards for his dedication to research and teaching. Most noteworthy:  UW, George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award (1993); UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Vanvig Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award (2012); NDSU College of Agriculture, Distinguished Alumni Award (2007); and CSU Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Honored Alumni Award (2019).  When accepting the Vanvig award, Steve was quoted as saying, "There's got to be a better way of controlling weeds than a hoe. That seed was planted in me early since I was helping weed the beet fields when I was little. That's why I went into agronomy." 
 
Steve and Bonnie were married in 1969. They loved playing bridge with Dorothy and Niles at the family cabin in Colorado. Steve enjoyed playing cards and games with family and friends.  He enjoyed watching the boys' sports teams and going to the park. He followed football, basketball, hockey, and golf. He loved being with his grandchildren, going to auctions with Bonnie, spoiling his beloved cats, and tending to the yard and flower beds. Steve was an avid collector of vintage cast iron farm toys. 
 
In honor of Steve's wishes, no funeral or memorial service will be held. The family expresses their deepest appreciation to the staff at Davis Hospice Center for the compassionate care they provided to Steve. 
 
Memorials can be made to Davis Hospice Center, 6000 Sycamore Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82009, or to The Western Society of Weed Science to assist graduate student travel to weed research meetings. Visit https://wsweedscience.org/annual-meeting-2024, and scroll down to the Dr. Steve Miller Memorial Donation link.