Dusty Miller, a Yellowknife resident who served the Royal Canadian Legion for more than 60 years, has passed away at the age of 99.
Miller died in the company of his family at Stanton Hospital on Monday.
“He loved people, and people loved him,” his son, Doug, told the Yellowknifer newspaper.
The photographer Dave Brosha, who worked with Dusty, wrote: “I photographed Dusty at various times over my career in Yellowknife and he was always quick with a story – always quick to take an interest in you and happy as can be when you responded in kind.”
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Brosha said Miller, as one of Yellowknife’s last veterans of World War Two, would be “likely a little miffed that he didn’t make it to 100” as centenarians customarily receive a letter from the Queen.
Miller had been honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013, for his outstanding contribution to his community and the territory.
He served on the executive committee of the Legion in Yellowknife for the better part of six decades and, in 1998, launched a Know Your Veteran program designed to help residents learn more about local veterans.
In May of this year, Miller cut the ribbon at the Legion’s new location.
Mayor of Yellowknife Mark Heyck said on Twitter: “On behalf of [the City], our deepest condolences to the family and friends of World War Two veteran Dusty Miller.
“I’ll miss seeing Dusty at the Remembrance Day parade. As he was so fond of saying, ‘Shake the hand that shook the world!'”
