Quentin C. “QC” Miles, 96, of Watertown, died Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at Prairie Lakes Hospice in Watertown.

Funeral Mass was Saturday, June 23, 2018, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Watertown. Visitation was Friday, June 22 at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel with a Scripture Wake Service. Burial was at the St. Boniface Cemetery in Clark with military honors.

Quentin C. Miles, son of Bertha and John Miles, was born Aug. 28, 1921, in rural Turton, S.D. 

In 1942, QC volunteered for service in World War II as an Army Air Corps pilot, where he flew 172 combat missions in China in a Stinson L-5 over a three-year period, and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, and two Air Medals. His second DFC was pinned on his uniform by General Claire Chennault, Commander of the famed 14th Air Force Flying Tigers.

After the war, Quentin married Lila Remily. 

Over the next four decades, QC established a solid reputation as one of South Dakota’s premier leaders in the field of public education. He taught mathematics, chemistry and coached basketball. He was Superintendent of Schools at Gann Valley, Forestburg, McIntosh, Mellette and Clark. After he “semi-retired,” he continued his educational career at Henry and St. Lawrence Catholic School in Milbank.

His civilian honors include the South Dakota High School Activities Association Distinguished Service Award, South Dakota Coaches Hall of Fame, and a longtime member of the Board of Control of the South Dakota High School Activities Association.

Quentin is survived by his eleven children, James (Kathy) Miles, Pat (Karen) Miles, Mary Miles, John Miles, Mike Miles, Maureen Miles, Terry Miles (Mary Deborah Tornow), Mark (Jane) Miles, Myrna (Jeff) Maxwell, Casey Miles, and Marta (Troy) Huls; two brothers, Norbert/Tip (Alyce) Miles, Jerome (Lou) Miles; 16 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lila; sisters May (Al) Engdahl, Dorothy (Milo) Nelson; and brothers Dick (Dorothy) Miles and Don (Ann) Miles.

The family requests that memorials be directed to Prairie Lakes Hospice in Watertown.