Barbara Miller

Barbara entered the arms of her Heavenly Father and her beloved husband, Dale, on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Born to Alfred and Edith (Andreas) Oswalt on June 13, 1941 in Wapato, WA. Barbara was raised on the family farm in Wapato and Toppenish before the family settled on their final farm on the Satus in Granger.

Barbara was the first of nine children. The family attended St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Toppenish and all nine children attended the Granger schools. Weekly church attendance was a must and each child was to work hard for their high school diploma.

Barbara met the love of her life on May 8th, 1959 in the Safeway parking lot in Sunnyside after “dragging the main” with a group of gals from Granger. Dale Miller was with his friends from Sunnyside and needed to go home. Dale said, “I live by Granger, I’ll take you.” Well, those dirt roads out to Barb’s Satus home in Dale’s brand new car did not deter him from asking her to the Granger carnival the next night as well as taking her home down those dusty roads again. This fateful night led to the wedding day of February 13, 1960. They spent 63 years together before Dale’s passing.

One of Barb’s fondest memories as a teenager was working for Bell’s Pharmacy. Immediately after graduation, Barb was hired to fill the full time position of the Granger High School secretary. Where she worked for 3 years and was employed in banking for numerous years.

Dale and Barb started their family on their farm. Todd was born in 1965 between Barb and Dale’s birthdays. Tyler arrived in 1967 and Stacey was born in 1969. As the kids grew, so did the list of activities and organizations Dale and Barb coached or led.

 One of the proudest times in Barb’s life was being a housewife. Raising 3 kids on the farm, running the house, working hand and hand with Dale to manage the cattle herd, 4-H projects, and ball games.

Dale and Barb started the Pride & Shine 4-H club in the '70s which led to 21 years as club leaders, and 17 years as Beef Superintendent of the Central WA Jr. Livestock show and the Yakima Valley Jr. Fair.

 A central part of Barb’s life was her faith. Raising their children in the church was essential to them. Dale and Barb joined the United Methodist Church in the early '70s and lead Sunday school classes, and youth activities, and served on numerous boards. Barb enjoyed being the wedding coordinator for the church.

Barb’s involvement with the Sunnyside School District began in August 1970 serving the roll of: volunteer parent, classroom mother, PTA member and officer (President 4 years), SHS booster member and President (3 yrs), bake sale queen mom, magazine sales chairperson, chaperone and substitute secretary. The list could go on and on. Barbara was awarded the Outlook Elementary PTA Person of the Year and the Outlook Grange Lifetime Honorary Member in 1979.

 April 1985 she began employment at Outlook Elementary as a 3rd grade para-pro. June of 1985 Barb was hired as the ASB/principal secretary at Sunnyside Junior High School. Many late hours were spent with the beginning of the computer system in the school buildings. She desired to work within the high school age level and in November of 1987 came the transfer to Sunnyside High School as the attendance clerk. A dream came true for her in August of 1988. She started in the newly remodeled Sunnyside High School as the ASB/Athletic secretary. Barb loved accounting, banking and working with students. This turned out to be the perfect occupation.

Over the years, Barb worked with 5 superintendents, 5 principals, 4 athletic directors, numerous staff members and hundreds of students and parents. Her involvement of 37 years with the Sunnyside School District has been challenging and most rewarding chapter in her life. She once said, “I sold a student ASB card to my future boss.”

After her retirement in 2007, nothing made Barb more proud than watching her kids and grandchildren in their sports and activities. The many trips around Eastern Washington and over the mountain to watch her sons coach the

grandkids and all the grandkids' activities: Baseball, softball, band, choir, dance, football volleyball, and soccer. True joy for Dale and Barb was spending time with family, especially the summer camping trips at Lake Easton.

The Oswalt family provided some of the fondest memories for Barb and her family. Celebrating the Christmas season every Christmas Eve at a siblings home where an average of 60 to 70 members of the four generation family attended with a full course meal and a visit from Santa Claus. Let’s not forget the sharing Thanksgiving meals every other year and the summer Andreas picnics. But the most coveted of all was the nine children and their spouses enjoying an evening of pinochle, lots of laughter and fellowship.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband Dale, parents Al and Edith Oswalt, sisters, Judy Nugent, Gayle Rescorla, Debbie Stanton. Brothers In-laws, Mike Nugent, and James Rescorla.

Barbara is survived by her sons Todd (Lisa) Miller, Everett, WA; Tyler (Kari) Miller, Sunnyside, WA and daughter Stacey Brunhaver, Mill Creek, WA. Grandchildren Megan Miller, Paige (Ryan) Lukas, Matthew (Hannah) Miller, Aundra (Mykah) Tracy-Hall, Brittany, and Nadine Brunhaver. Great Grandchildren Theodore and Lenora Miller and soon to be joined by a baby girl Luna Tracy-Hall. Brother Dean (Reinie) Oswalt, sisters Linda (Norm) Morrow, Nancy (Randy) Hull, Cindi (Rick) Dillman, brother Rick (Rhonda) Oswalt, and brother In-law John Stanton and as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and other family members and many friends.

Viewing and visitation will be on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 3-6 pm at Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 11 am at Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside followed by a Graveside service at the Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside. Reception to follow at the Presbyterian Church in Sunnyside.

 The Miller family would like to thank the staff at Sun Terrace Assisted Living in Prosser for their love, care, and support of Mom. As well as the staff at Heartlinks Hospice for their loving care of Mom.

 For those wishing to donate in the memory of Barbara, please submit to Heartlinks Hospice 3920 Outlook Road, Sunnyside, WA 98944 http://www.heartlinkshospice.org Those wishing to sign Barbara’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com

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