Dean L. Miles

9/26/1945 — 9/30/2016

Service Date: 10/7/2016
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On Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, an extraordinary man, husband, father, brother, grandpa and friend left this world to join the Lord. Dean passed away after a long battle with cancer with his family by his side.

Dean was born Sept. 26, 1945, in Lewiston, to Paul and Beryl Miles and was the baby of the family. He grew up in Lewiston and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1963. He received a teaching certificate from Lewis-Clark Normal School and in 1968 taught at Lebanon, Ore.

Dean's family owned a gas station in Lewiston for many years. Dean worked at the Miles Service Station at a very young age, where he learned about motors and racing. He also learned the Nez Perce language in order to pump gas for the clientele. He taught part of that language to his daughters.

Dean was a risk-taker all of his life, so racing cars was a dream come true. He raced stock cars from 1966 into the '70s at the Lewiston Speedway. He was known in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley as the "Super Pickle," and his stock car number was 12. At the height of his racing career, he set seven track records, a first for the Speedway, and followed that with placing among the top five qualifiers each week during the 1970 racing season, another first for the Speedway. He was a racing legend for many in the area.

After the track was closed, Dean started looking for more excitement. He started racing jet boats from the late '80s into the early '90s. Racing in any form was such an enjoyable part of his life.

He joined the U.S. Army National Guard of Idaho in 1966, and was soon activated to serve in Vietnam for three months. He then returned to Idaho to finish his Guard service, discharging in 1972.

Dean met his wife of 43 years in 1969. After falling deeply in love, they were married on July 21, 1973, and raised two beautiful daughters, April and Angie. Dean was so proud of his daughters and always wondered how he got so lucky. He taught them values and morals, which helped make them the outstanding women they are today.

Dean had his own 18-wheeler for the first few years of his marriage and long-hauled around many states. Wanting to stay closer to home, Dean took a job at Baker Truck Lines for 14 years and then moved on to work for Lewiston Pre-Mix for the next 12 years. The last job before his retirement was as a mechanic at the Clearwater River Casino, where he worked for 11 years.

Throughout all of his other careers, Dean was a backyard mechanic. He worked on many cars for the community, helping others who could not afford the cost of a commercial business.

Dean was an avid golfer and taught his wife how to golf. Together, this became a passion and propelled them to golf in many states, including Hawaii. His biggest passion, however, was his family. Dean's grandchildren brought hours of enjoyment for him. He talked about them on a daily basis, and his eyes lit up when they visited.

Dean is survived by his wife, Doris; daughters April (Brian) Christenson,

Angie (Scott) Herrmann; six grandchildren, Brandon, Josh and Brittany Christenson, and Sydney, Jase and Justin Herrmann; and his sister, Ellen Potts.

Dean was preceded in death by his mother and father; brothers Elton, Paulie, Dale and Dickie Miles; and sister, AnnaMae Rauch.

His family wishes to extend sincere gratitude to the St. Joseph Family Hospice team for all the comfort and care they gave to Dean and his family in his final days. They also greatly appreciate the many years of outstanding care provided by the St. Joseph Cancer Center.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at All Saints Catholic Church, immediately followed by a celebration of life in the social hall.