David was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the eldest son of Alvin and Freda Miller. The family moved to several southern Manitoba locations as his father's career in education unfolded. After Winnipeg, the family resided in Hartney, Deloraine, Rivers and finally Brandon. David had three younger siblings; Edith, Wayne and John. David was predeceased by his parents and brother Wayne. 

David completed grades 8 through 12 in Brandon, and then completed Teacher Training in Brandon and worked as an elementary school Teacher in Mather and Gilbert Plains for several years. He returned to Winnipeg to take up training in Anthropology and Archaeology, completing a Bachelor's degree in 1973. He was accepted into the Master's program, and completed his thesis research - an ethnography of pinball players - all of which was lost on the way to Cross Lake First Nation in 1976.

David married Sharon Goudie in 1974, at the St. John’s Anglican Chapel, University of Manitoba campus. Over their 51 years together, they lived in Winnipeg, MB, Cross Lake, MB, Regina, SK and Saskatoon, SK, with the last 30 years in a 1925 house they renovated top to bottom. Their son, Michael, was born in 1976, during a classic Winnipeg three-day blizzard.

David had several careers over his lifetime - teacher, family childcare provider, researcher, social worker, webpage developer, stationary engineer - a modern-day Renaissance person! He was always learning - from extensive reading, conversations with other people, watching YouTube videos and much ‘trial and error’ experimentation.

Over the years, David enjoyed gardening, wine, beer and bread making, learning German sword work, making durodangos (Japanese mud balls), walking - alone or with the dog, camping in the boreal forests of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, attending powwows, sundances and other events with the Baptiste/Blackstar/Lerat families, reading hundreds of library books and writing a daily journal of quotes, his musings and ideas for new projects.

Sincere thanks and appreciation to all the medical professionals at Royal University Hospital who cared for David during his last days - they were extraordinarily kind and supportive. Also, thank you to everyone who visited him in the hospital!

A Celebration of Life will be held on September 27th, in Saskatoon for family, friends and neighbours.

Please contact Sharon at forestgypsies@shaw.ca or text/call 306-250-1400 by September 12th, 2026 to RSVP and receive details about the time and location.

Martens Warman Funeral Home is honoured to be entrusted with the care and arrangements of David Miller.