The family of Tony Miller says the coronavirus was something they heard about on television or read in the newspaper.
Since March the Luverne family donned masks, social distanced and expected the viral respiratory virus would be history in a couple of months.
On Friday, Sept. 25, Tony Miller became Rock County’s first death attributed to COVID-19. On that date he was one of 2,008 Minnesotans who have so far died from the virus.
According to state data, the majority of Minnesota pandemic deaths have occurred in the Twin Cities.
“It is not supposed to happen in little Rock County,” said Tony’s wife, Sharon.
Tony was 66 years old with no underlying health conditions that would have made him susceptible to contracting the infectious disease.
“He was just an average person,” said his daughter, Amber Nath of Luverne. “Usually it’s the older people or the people who have underlying conditions. My dad didn’t have that.”
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the virus is thought to spread by nose and mouth droplets when someone who is infected coughs, sneezes or exhales. An infected person can spread the disease before they have symptoms or feel sick.
For months Tony and Sharon followed the state’s stay-at-home orders and recently began resuming some normal social activities.
“We took it very seriously,” Sharon said. “Every day when Tony went to coffee, he had his mask on.”
“Everyone wants ‘normalness,’” Nath added. “Especially when you’re eating and drinking … it is hard to wear a mask.”
Health officials indicate most recent COVID-19 outbreaks in Minnesota have been tracked to community gatherings with limited social distancing and mask use in place.
Sharon said no one has contacted her to trace where exactly Tony may have contracted the coronavirus.
She does know the couple wore no masks when they attended a public gathering Sept. 11, and several other people at that event have since contracted the virus.
“We were at the brewery the night everyone broke out, and it just seemed like days after that he got a cough and a fever,” she said. “People didn’t have masks on.”
She said Tony’s cough and fever progressed to trouble with breathing. Amber remembered suggesting to her dad that he should go to the hospital to be tested.
“He said, ‘No, I am doing what I am supposed to do, and that’s quarantine,’” Amber recalled. “For the symptoms that he had, he was doing the right thing.”
With Tony’s death on Sept. 25, Sharon, Amber and members of Amber’s family have quarantined from work and school to prevent any additional viral spread.
As a safety precaution, Amber, who operates a day care, and her family got tested and learned they were negative for the coronavirus.
Sharon, who has been in contact with health offices, is no longer in quarantine.
They are currently making plans to celebrate Tony’s life on Nov. 6.
“The reason we picked that weekend is because he hunts with these guys (every year) for 30 to 40 years … it would be nice if they could be together to kick off the hunting season,” Sharon said.
Next week marks the Millers’ 43rd wedding anniversary, and family members said Tony would expect them to move on with their lives.
“You can’t stay in your house for months on end — can’t live with the ‘what ifs,’” Amber said.
For Sharon, moving on means taking the suggested health precautions and only gathering in small groups.
“Hug your loved ones and make sure you keep that mask on,” she said.