Joan Miller went on to glory August 3, 2010, in Pasco, Washington. She was a remarkable woman who always considered herself timid and fearful, choosing to entitle the little book she wrote about her life, "Much Afraid." Perhaps it was because she was so aware of her fear that she learned to turn to God in prayer about everything in her life. The result was a woman of uncommon faith and strength who has impacted her children, their children and countless others forever. She was born Joan Mary Sauter in Fairmount, North Dakota, in 1926, to a farming family, the middle child of seven. One of her sisters born after her was never able to sit up or walk and Joan especially enjoyed caring for her while growing up. After high school, she left home for nurses' training in 1944. She prayed her way through the rigorous three year training, graduating from the Nurses Cadet Corp in 1947. The hospital in Jamestown where she trained asked her to stay on as head nurse in their nursery. In 1948, Joan married Floyd Clayton Miller, a dashing local farm boy home from the war. Just nine months later their first son was born. Over the next 17 years God added five more children to their quiver. How much courage, faith and strength does it take to bear and raise six children and stay happily married? She prayed her way through each day. She was never free to return to the nursing profession but trusted God in that. By the time Floyd and Joan moved their family out from Jamestown, North Dakota to Kennewick, Washington in 1969, Joan had already won a major battle in her life. When the cares of life found her getting bitter against Floyd, she prayed unceasingly for him to change. She didn't see any change. One day, God impressed upon her that she was to pray for herself to change and trust Floyd to God. That kind of praying got results! When he found he had a kinder, more forgiving wife, Floyd began letting go of many of his habits that had troubled Joan. So when a Bible study program called Key .73 came to town, their hearts were both prepared for what God was doing. The Lord opened His Scriptures so that His Word came alive to them and they both received Jesus's new life birthed in their spirits. Soon the charismatic renewal came to their Catholic community through Life in the Spirit Seminars. Floyd and Joan became leaders in the charismatic Catholic prayer meeting. As they prayed and walked in their new faith, one by one all of their children received the new life of Christ within. Several of them joined in helping lead music worship in the prayer meetings. Because the foundation of their new life in Christ was in God's Word and not just in the experiences of the charismatic renewal, they continued to study the Bible. Floyd taught Bible studies in their home from 1976 to 1980 as Joan prayed for and welcomed all who came. Meanwhile, others in the charismatic Catholic prayer meeting were moving toward different doctrine. In time, they, Floyd and Joan parted with the prayer meeting and joined Faith Assembly, where some of their children were going. Floyd took Berean courses and became an ordained pastor of the Assemblies of God in 1984 while they served in several churches in Eastern Washington. Now Joan prayed for new faces in their congregations in addition to her family and all the authorities over their lives. She enjoyed this new life as she met each new fear with prayer. In the meantime, their children were finding and marrying godly spouses, just as they had prayed they would. Several of their sons followed Floyd's example and pastored for several years. Joan prayed daily for each of her children's families for every need she knew about. But she never interfered as a mother-in-law! How much faith and prayer does that take?! She prayed for her friends and her neighbors and led many to find Christ as their Savior. She learned and taught other women about the power of supportive wifely submission as her husband pastored for ten years. Between 1979 and 2005, eighteen grandchildren were added to her prayer list. Once again, as they grew up, she prayed for each one to find a godly mate. In 1991, Floyd underwent heart surgery and gave up pastoring. Joan took complete care of him as his health diminished until just three months before his death in 2001. After a few years living by herself, she moved in with one of her sons. Later she lived at Richland Gardens and then at Desert Haven. She was a blessing and well-loved everywhere she stayed, continuing to pray daily with her journal until 2007. Today Joan looks down from heaven on two sisters, Elaine and Leah and by all her children and their spouses: Dennis & Chris, Brian & Julie, Alan & Kathy, Julie & Pat Jenkins, Craig & Martha, Jeanette & Bill Chvala, grandchildren: Keith & Bethany, Angie, Jennifer & Caleb Stromstad, Andrew, Zach & Kaley, Mark & Risa, Rachel, Paul, Michael & Meridith, Mallory & Cody Crowder, Jessica, Annie, Erick, Arthur, Ethan, Clarie, Grace, Will, great-grandchildren: Keziah, Evangeline, Keith, Zion and Jack, along with countless others who have been very richly blessed by her faithful life in Christ and through her prayers over the years. Joan's children request that those who desire to give gifts in Joan's memory would please contribute to Hospice at the Chaplaincy in Kennewick, Washington. Viewing Wednesday August 11 5 to 8 pm at Muellers Tri-Cities Funeral Home 1401 S. Union Kennewick Funeral Service Thursday August 12, 11 am at Faith Assembly Christian Center 1800 RD 72 Pasco.