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“Flip” Miller, age 87, of Valley City, ND, died Saturday, June 28th at his residence in Valley City. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 2nd at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Valley City. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home in Valley City and one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday morning. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Interment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery near Valley City. Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home of Valley City.
Flip was born on August 21st, 1926 in Cando, North Dakota. He joined the Navy at the age of 17 and was stationed in the Philippines in World War II. After completing his duty with the Navy, he discovered his passion and began his career in aviation. This included time spent as a crop sprayer, flight instructor and A&P mechanic. On August 31st, 1952 he married Dorothy Carlson in Cando, North Dakota. The couple moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where Flip worked at Air Activities, Kundert Aviation and later as a civilian employee of the North Dakota Air National Guard’s Happy Hooligans. In 1966, he moved his family to Valley City and started General Air Service. In 1971, he sold his business to Dan and Larry Lindemann and opened Flip’s Avionics which specialized in aircraft radio sales, service and installation for over 35 years! Those who frequented the shop knew Flip’s motto that if he couldn’t fix it, it wasn’t broken! Flip received numerous honors in the field of aviation over the years including three FAA Safety Awards, the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in Aviation in 1999 and was inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005. Among his many achievements, Flip was proud to serve the citizens of Valley City as a Police Officer for over 13 years. He retired from the force in 1991 and often spoke fondly of this many friends, fellow officers and co-workers at the Valley City Police Department. In 1996, Flip’s wife Dorothy passed away. He continued to stay busy at the airport building a Formula One race aircraft and assisting fellow aviation enthusiasts in working on WWII aircraft restorations. While enjoying one of his favorite ways to pass time, playing music and writing songs, Flip was introduced to his second love, Violet Ames of West Palm Beach, Florida. They were married on September 15th, 2001. They made their homes in Fitzgerald, Georgia and Valley City.
Flip is survived by his wife Violet, Fitzgerald, GA; children, Phillip D. Miller, Fargo, ND; Cindy Gylden, Valley City, ND; Chris (Tammy) Miller, Mandan, ND; Connie (Jeff) Schlittenhardt, Valley City, ND; Janet (James) Zinke, Fargo, ND; Gilbert Tarte, Fitzgerald, GA; Jake Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, GA; Sandra Dianne Coleman, St. Augustine, FL; Robert Storey, West Palm Beach, FL; grandchildren, Tyler Miller, Michael Miller, Jessica Gylden, Talon Schlittenhardt, Nicholas Miller, Kaylee Schlittenhardt, and Johanna Zinke.
An online guest book is available at lerudschuldt.com.