The Service in PDF format is at: Malcolm Miner’s Memorial
† Malcolm Miner †
December 11, 1932 – November 27, 2024
AS WE GATHER
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Today we gather in the valley. Grief rising on one side, pain rising on the other. The valley can be lonely, treacherous, and all-encompassing. I will fear no evil. Ahead lies a mountain, a mountain of hope. Joy and peace envelop all who pass through the valley and ascend the mountain. Today we make that journey to the mountaintop.
MAL’S LIFE IN PICTURES
Music only
Leader: In the name of the Father, the † Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
PRAYER
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray to the Lord.
O God whose mercies are new every morning, give us strength as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. May Your rod and staff comfort us. Bring us safely to Your mountain, where we will join with all the saints proclaiming Your praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength. This we pray in Jesus’ name.
People: Amen.
Edwin Othello Excell; John Newton; John P. Rees; William W. Walker; Words: Public Domain ; Music: Public Domain
Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Safe in the Shepherd’s Arms
23 A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord foreve
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
MAL’S LIFE IN WORDS
† Malcolm Roy Miner †
December 11, 1932 to November 27, 2024
Malcolm Roy Miner — a devoted family man, veteran, world traveler, and lifelong learner — passed away peacefully on November 27, 2024, in Beaverton, Oregon. He was 91, surrounded by his family.
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on December 11, 1932, Malcolm was the eldest of four children of Lucile and Harold E. Miner. As the son of an Army officer, his early years were spent moving around the globe, including attending high school in Turkey. He graduated in civil engineering from Auburn University and, following in his father’s footsteps, served as an officer in the U.S. Army. After his service, he earned a master’s degree from the Technical University of Munich in Germany.
While skiing in the Austrian Alps, Malcolm met the love of his life, Sabine Plache (1939– 2016). Their life together was full of adventure, laughter, and deep companionship.
Malcolm’s career mirrored his intellectual curiosity and love of exploration. As a highway engineer, he worked on projects in Turkey, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Libya. At 33, he earned his pilot’s license, sparking a lifelong passion for aviation.
In the 1960s, he turned to airport design and development, first with working in Norway, taking the family with him. Next, he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration, and later for CH2M Hill in Corvallis. In 1977, he founded his own airport planning consultancy, often flying himself to remote job sites across the Northwest. Eventually, he became a certified real estate appraiser — a career that suited his love of people, stories, and lively conversation.
In 1975, he and his family settled on a 16-acre ranch in Philomath, Oregon, where he embraced rural life — raising cattle, tending bees, and working the land with joy and care. A lifelong athlete, Malcolm took up triathlons in his 50s and celebrated his 75th birthday by skydiving — proof of his fearless zest for life.
He was a devoted supporter of the Oregon State University women’s basketball team, rarely missing a game and meticulously tracking player stats. He was also a founding member of the Rotary Club of Philomath and an active member of Peace Lutheran Church.
Malcolm will be remembered for his warmth, sharp intellect, and quick wit. His humor lit up every room, and his generous spirit left a lasting mark. Even in his later years, he remained curious and deeply engaged with the world.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sabine; his son, Mark; and his brother, Gary. He is survived by his sons, Michael and Matthew; his daughter-in-law, Aileen; and his grandchildren: Kai, Sage, Kian, Larissa, and David. He also leaves behind his sisters, Beverly Murray and Diane Ota.
Malcolm’s presence will be deeply missed, but his legacy of kindness, adventure, service, and laughter lives on in the many lives he touched.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care.
Sharing of Mal’s Life – Matthew Miner
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds, Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r thru’out, The universe displayed
.
Chorus: Then sings my soul, My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
Then sings my soul, My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, How great Thou art
.
When through the woods, And forest glades I wander
And hear the birds, Sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down, From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, And feel the gentle breeze
Chorus
Pastor Lucke
LORD’S PRAYER
ALL: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
Leader: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and +give you peace.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG “Children of the Heavenly Father”
Text: Caroline V. Sandell Berg, 1832-1903; tr. Ernst W. Olson, 1870-1958
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in his bosom gather,
Nestling bird or star in heaven
Such a refuge ne’er was given.
.
God his own doth tend and nourish,
In his holy courts they flourish,
From all evil things he spares them,
In his mighty arms he bears them.
.
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord his children sever;
From all evil things he spares them,
In his mighty arms he bears them.
.
Though he giveth or he taketh,
God his children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
† Malcolm Miner †
December 11, 1932 – November 27, 2024