Carol Ines Miller
December 9, 1938 ~ July 2, 2026
Resided in: Fargo, North Dakota
On July 2nd 2026, Carol Ines Miller, currently of Fargo North Dakota, entered into eternal rest. She was born on December 9th, 1938 in Cleveland Ohio, The 7th of 9 children born to Joseph and Frances (Emerick) Singell. She graduated from East High School in Cleveland and Attended John Wesley College in Owosso, Michigan, receiving a BS in Early Childhood Development. She began working toward her MS at Michigan State University. For 20 years she worked for the Head Start program in Northern Michigan as a teacher.
On June 9 1963 she married John Vanella in Orange California, and had 2 sons John (Karen) Miller and Ted (Mary) Miller. Upon her divorce in 1965 she moved to Northern Michigan where on May 13, 1967, She married Ray Kenneth Miller in Dowagiac, Michigan. Her children from this marriage are Dan (Frank) Miller-Gartner and Michelle (Merl) Summerland. She and Ray remained married until his death from cancer in 2004.
Her married life was spent on “the farm” in Ellsworth Michigan, where at varying times her family had chickens, rabbits, pigs, goats, ducks, dairy cattle, horses, dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs. She ran a very efficient farm kitchen that produced canned vegetables, jellies and jams, butter, cheese and apple sauce. She made sure that all of her children learned life skills, they could cook, clean, sew, change a tire, handle tools, do minor repairs. She did not want her children to be dependent on anyone for simple skills.
As an educator she was animate about answering her children correctly, So for many questions she would pull out the encyclopedias or the dictionary. Her children soon learned this was a good way to distract her when they were in trouble. After a while every encyclopedia would be on the floor and she would have forgotten what she was angry about.
She was truly a “renaissance woman”. She was musical, playing many instruments, including guitar, piano and trumpet among others, she was an accomplished painter, and worked in several other mediums. She was a quilter, knitter, needle point, etc. She loved doing Ukrainian Easter Eggs every year, after teaching herself how. She was an avid reader and loved learning new skills.
After she retired, she was able to do the traveling she had always wanted to. She went to most of Europe and the Mediterranean, her favorites being Israel, Poland, where she got to visit the village her grandmother came from, and Ireland, she said the people there were the friendliest in the world.
She was proceeded in death by her husband Ray, her parents Joseph and Frances, her Sisters Retha (Junior) Blocher, Violet (Clarence) Hnanicek, Roma Singell, David (Joanne) Singell, Larry (Barbara) Singell, her twin brother Joel (Aquila) Singell, Daniel (Sally) Singell, Timothy Singell. She is Survived by her 4 children, 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and many loved ones and friends.
The best way to remember Carol is to be kind, learn something new, support your local library, read books and hug your kids.
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We were saddened to hear of the loss of Auntie Carol.
Please know that our hearts, thoughts and prayers walk with all of you.
Sending love,
Kathie McDermott, Jim Hacker & Family