William Miller, a teacher who inspired students

William (Bill) Miller of St. Paul was a gentle but demanding teacher of Twin Cities high school students.

Miller, who taught in various high schools from 1951 to 1985, died on March 16 in Maplewood of complications from chemotherapy for cancer. He was 83.

Miller taught history and economics at Golden Valley's Breck School from 1951 to 1956, leaving to teach at Minneapolis' Patrick Henry High School for about 20 years.

After writing social studies curricula for the Minneapolis School District, he taught at the old Marshall-University High School for a few years. His last assignment was with Minneapolis' Washburn High School from 1982 to 1985.

Marvin Johnson of North Branch, Minn., a retired Patrick Henry teacher, said Miller was "brilliant" and worked hard for all students -- "bright ones as well as those experiencing difficulties."

"He was so wise about everything, so good and so kind," said Johnson. "He was so respected by everybody at the school."

Miller grew up in Ironwood, Mich., and during World War II, he served as an officer in the Army Air Forces. In 1950, he earned a bachelor's degree at Carleton College in Northfield, and in the early 1950s, a master's degree in history at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

"He was the best high school teacher I ever had," said Char Bonniwell of Minnetonka, a student of Miller's at Patrick Henry High School in the mid-1950s.

"He gave me more tools to prepare me for college," said Bonniwell. "We knew he cared so much."

While a teacher at Marshall, he also trained University of Minnesota student teachers.

Miller's daughter, Ann Foss of Eden Prairie, said his students would meet at the Millers' home for group discussions.

"He loved to learn, and loved to teach and interact with his students," said his daughter.

Miller was green before it was in vogue, said his daughter. He did without many modern appliances, and walked whenever possible.

"He had thousand of books," said his daughter, and he used old-fashioned fountain pens. He believed that "letter writing was a great art," she said.

When on vacation, he would camp, often at Madeline Island in Lake Superior.

In addition to his daughter, Ann, he is survived by his wife of 58 years, Fern of St. Paul; two sons, Tom of Nicosia, Cyprus, and John of Madison, Wis., and four grandsons.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. April 12 at St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ, 2129 Commonwealth Av., St. Paul.