1940-2025
Ruth Elaine Hoppe Miller passed away Sunday, December 28, 2025. She was born on May 2, 1940, in Winters, Texas to William and Josephine (Spill) Hoppe. She was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Winters, Texas where she faithfully taught Sunday School, volunteered to lead Vacation Bible School, and organizing the Angel Tree each Christmas. Her faith in God and the church carried her through many obstacles and uncertainty in life.
As a proud 1958 graduate of Winters High School, she participated in basketball, volleyball, and 4-H. The highlight of Elaine's high school career was being awarded the 4-H Gold Star Girl. Shortly thereafter, she attended beauty school in Abilene. In 1975, Elaine started LVN school at Ballinger Hospital and accomplished her dream of becoming a nurse. As a LVN night nurse at North Runnels Hospital for nearly 40 years, she touched the lives of patients and their families in their most trying times. Elaine's nursing skills were not confined to the brick and mortar of the hospital building, she also worked as a hospice nurse, activity director for the local nursing home, and for home health for many years. During their darkest and most stressful times, she wanted to bring comfort to those who were suffering.
Elaine loved to help people, to be outside, and to make things. She enjoyed many events with J'Dan and served as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America. She enjoyed cooking by the campfire, sleeping under the stars, and teaching others the art of making things and living off the land. From these adventures with her troops, Elaine fondly spoke of these times in her later years and loved to tell stories and laugh about the good times and good people that helped to make these memories in simple settings.
One of her favorite places on earth was "the country, the Hoppe place, or Hound Hill." Here, she felt at peace. Whether it was at the house, creek, tank, pasture, or riding in the Kubota, Elaine created lifelong memories with her family and friends. Elaine loved to grow things in the garden, watch the birds, and sit at the tank to enjoy God's bounty. She loved to talk about plants with her two grandsons, Scott and Clent, who shared this interest. Together, they would sit and talk "plants." She loved "the boys" fiercely. Whether they were playing baseball or spending time at the farm, she wanted to be there. As she grew older and they visited her, she was so happy.
On July 5, 1970, Elaine married Dan Watson Miller at St. John's Luther Church. They spent 41 loving years together. She is survived by her children who she loved fiercely: Dawn and Brent Bryan, Francine and Jerry Sallese, J'Dan and Kelsey Miller, and Carl and Loyce Miller of Clyde. Grandchildren Scott and Holly Bryan, Clent and Stephanie Bryan, Jennifer and Jim Craig, and Stephanie Sallese. Great-grandchildren Mack Bryan, Charlotte and Cassidy Bryan, and Kayley, Evan, Sebastian, Joseph, and Victor Craig. Elaine was also lovingly called "Nanny" by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Elaine was met at her heavenly home by her loving parents, Bill and Josie; her faithful husband, Dan; children, Daniel Miller and Janie Stephenson, and grandchild, Justin Sallese.
The family will receive friends at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, January 1, 2026 at Winters Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 2, 2026 at St. John's Lutheran Church with burial following at Lakeview Cemetery.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Rock Hotel or Winters Public Library.
