Stephen B. Miller

The Honorable Stephen B. Miller, of Battle Creek, MI died Saturday, December 17th at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. He was 77 years old.

Miller was born to Margaret (O'Dea) Miller of Liscarroll, County Cork, Ireland and Rex Earl Miller of Battle Creek in Hornsey, County Middlesex, England in 1945. He arrived in America at the port of New York aboard the USAT Henry Gibbins with his mother on March 14, 1946, before travelling on the New York Central Line to Battle Creek to await the discharge of his father from the European theatre in World War II.

He graduated from St. Philip Catholic Central in 1963, attending Kellogg Community College before later attending and graduating from Michigan State University in 1967. He received his Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University in 1973. He also served and was honorably discharged from the United States Navy and the Air National Guard.

Upon admission into the State Bar, Miller worked for Legal Aid of West Michigan before joining the Calhoun County Prosecutors office under Stanley Everett. He went on to private practice with Anthony Calderone before his appointment to the 10th District Court by Governor William Milliken in 1977. He stood for retention in 1978 and won successive terms before running for and winning a seat on the 37th Circuit Court in 1986. At his retirement in 2016, he became the longest serving trial court judge in Calhoun County history, serving 39 years and 11 ½ months.

He was a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Calhoun County Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Society of Legal History, Phi Alpha Delta, and served as a KCC Mock Trial instructor.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Patricia R. (Steffee) Miller, his father, Rex and mother, Margaret and nephews Jacob Steffee and Donald Steffee.

Miller is survived by his son, former Calhoun County Commissioner Benjamin Miller of East Lansing, his daughter Elizabeth (Jessie) Read of Holt, granddaughters Emma and Abigail Read and sisters Mary (Roger) Rossman of Battle Creek, Elieen (Randy) Poole of Roswell, Georgia and 15 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 30th at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek before interment with his wife, Patricia at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in his name to T.W.I.G.S (To Work in Grateful Service) at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/HonorableStephenMiller. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.