A memorial service to celebrate Valerie's life will be held at the Cody Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1608 19th Street on Wednesday, July 13 at 11:00am with a reception to follow in the church ¬fellowship hall. Visitation will be at Ballard Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 from 6:30-8pm. Interment will be at the Miller Family Cemetery southwest of Streeter, ND on Friday, July 15.

Valerie Jean (Miller) Lehman, 56, of Cody, fell asleep in Jesus July 10, 2011 in the Spirit Mountain Hospice room of West Park Hospital, surrounded by her loving family, after a four-year battle with kidney cancer. Valerie was born September 11, 1954 in Jamestown, ND to Walter and Shirley (Heitzmann) Miller. She was raised on the family farm south of Streeter, ND where the spiritual influence of her mother and the work ethic of her father formed the foundation for her life. Her early education was in the public school system in Streeter, ND. She finished her high school education at Cheyenne River Academy near Harvey, ND. She earned a 4-year Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Union College in Lincoln, NE, graduating in 1976. It was during her final year at Union College when she met her husband, Kevin Lehman. Her career in Psychology and Chemical Dependency began quite by accident, as it was the only job available upon graduating from college. After a 24-year career in Lincoln, NE, Hutchinson, MN and Bozeman, MT, she joined the staff at the Cedar Mountain Center, West Park Hospital in Cody, WY. During her 11-year career at CMC she was proud to be a part of the team that changed the level of professionalism of West Park Hospital. While Valerie was the consummate professional woman, the greatest joy of her life was fulfilling the roles of a loving wife, mothering the joys of her life – her awesome sons and home-schooling her sons. In her spare time, her other interests included church activities, music, spiritual enrichment, outdoor activities, and numerous crafts.

Valerie is survived by her husband of 35 years, Kevin Lehman; sons, Bryan Lehman and Jonathan Lehman both of Cody; her father, Walter Miller of Wishek, ND; siblings, Linda (Kim) Hoffman of Green Bush, MN; Lyle (Becky) Miller of Streeter, ND; Rita (Scott) Schumacher of Napoleon, ND; eight nieces and nephews and numerous family and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley.