Paying last respects News Utah Jazz

In a steady stream Friday, thousands of well-wishers visited EnergySolutions Arena to give something ? cards, flowers, and words of consolation, support and gratitude ? to the family of a beloved man who passed away after giving so much to the community he loved. They came in suits and dresses. They came in casual jeans and T-shirts.

They came sporting logos from his many businesses, including Utah Jazz jerseys, ties and hats. Some even came dressed like Larry H. Miller ? from the khaki pants and tucked-in polo shirts to the comfy sneakers. Invited by the Miller family to attend a public viewing in The Jazz Home That Larry Built, they certainly came. And came. And they kept coming ? several thousand strong ? as friends, admirers, acquaintances, fans and grateful strangers to bid a fond farewell a week after the 64-year-old NBA franchise owner, business mogul and philanthropist died due to complications from type-2 diabetes. "Everybody's welcome here," said Renate Haroldsen, a former employee of Miller's. "I think that's neat." They were literally welcomed with opened arms, too. Gail Miller stood by her husband's open casket and greeted and thanked everybody who waited in the long line ? many for more than two hours ? with hugs and handshakes. Miller's children, including Jazz CEO Greg Miller, were also on hand in the arena's VIP room to receive condolences and to give warm words of appreciation in return. "We just wanted to pay our respects because we know what a wonderful man he's been to the community," said Judy Haroldsen. "To have the family there shaking hands was really a personal touch." And that was just the four-hour-long public viewing Friday evening. Prior to that special gathering, the family hosted a private viewing to mourn, laugh and share memories with religious leaders such as President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), current and former Jazz team members ? including the reunited John Stockton, Karl Malone and Jeff Hornacek ? community and state leaders, and close friends. The thousands who attended the public viewing entered the arena on the main level. Welcomed by ushers, they then took a slow stroll through Larry H. Miller's memory lane. Photos from throughout his lifetime were placed on easels throughout the concourse. While videos featuring Miller played on TV screens, people experienced a visual glimpse into highlights of his jam-packed 64 years and 10 months. Pictures ranged from shots of his Capitol Hills youth baseball team, camping and fishing trips with his family, his first sold car on May 1, 1979, at the Toyota store in Murray, him talking to a Jazz crowd, to Miller posing with the Dalai Lama and chatting with the late LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, to several of him smiling at the side of his wife and five children. After winding down stairs and through halls underneath the arena's bleachers, visitors entered the blossoming flower garden of a VIP room. Friends, businesses and educational institutions donated dozens of ornate bouquets. Many had personal touches, including one that looked like a baseball for the owner of the Salt Lake Bees and another that resembles the patch with a purple, gold and green "J" note with LHM initials on it that Jazz players will wear the rest of the season in his honor. Many guests couldn't help but smile as they walked by Miller's casket. It was painted blue and decorated to look like one of his favorite cars, with two thick white stripes down the middle and a Ford Cobra emblem on the hood. Even the stunning white bouquet on top inscribed with the words "Dear Husband" included a black-and-white checkered ribbon for the car lover. The Haroldsens were among the guests who were appreciative that the Millers let them experience the moment with the man who meant so much to so many. Jess Haroldsen fondly remembers Miller driving around his old Sandy neighborhood in what he called "a cute little Falcon." His daughter, Renate Haroldsen, cherishes a friendly encounter she once had from when she worked at the Miller Motorsports Park. "I remember Larry Miller pulling into the race track at one point, rolled down his window and said, 'It's mighty hot out here. Thanks for working,'?" she said. "He's just a great guy. I've always thought that." She felt the same when she worked at the Delta Center years ago, too. "He was just like a typical person, walked in and said, 'Hi' to everybody," she added. Though they never personally met him, Brent and Justin Beard attended the viewing because, in part, they are thankful that Miller bought the Jazz in the mid-1980s and kept them here for the long haul. They're also grateful for the racetrack and the Bees. "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have hardly any sports in Utah. All it would be is college," Brent Beard said. "I think he's a great guy." Justin Beard thinks he's even more than that. "He's Utah," he said with a smile. "He's a good man, a great man." Stewart Anderson came because he worked twice in different capacities for Miller, whom he said "it's been great working for," and wanted to pay his respects to his former employer. Anderson met Miller once when he was a projectionist at the Jordan Commons' Megaplex theater. "He came up to the projection room and said, 'Hi' and he actually started a film," Anderson recalled. "I showed him how to start it and we talked for a little while about movies. It was pretty cool. "Meanwhile, people had no idea that Larry Miller had started their film." The funeral for the late Jazz owner will take place at the arena today at noon. The public is welcome to attend the religious service. There will be no live TV or radio broadcasts of the funeral. Making the emotional day all the more difficult ? or perhaps inspiring ? for the Jazz is the fact they host the Sacramento Kings tonight at 7 in the same building. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan isn't sure whether or not his team will be drained from the day's events. "They all know that everybody wants them to play well ? everybody in the organization. Of course, if Larry were here, he would want everybody to play well, too," Sloan said. "But you can't control it. Some people are affected differently. Good, bad. ? Some people play better than others, I guess, in those situations." Jazz veteran Matt Harpring, who attended the private viewing Friday, believes the team will pull together and "get through it." It's a game, he says, the team "want(s) to win." He also thinks Miller will be "up there wanting us to win." "Sometimes things happens in life. The schedule's gonna be a little messed up. But we'll figure it out, because it means a lot. ? We'll make it work," Harpring said. "Emotionally it is tough. It's tougher on Jerry, probably, than anyone. He's been around here the longest," he added. "When you're passionate about the game, just he is and like Larry is, you're gonna have differences. You're gonna have highs and lows. And when you go through stuff like that, it makes a loss mean a lot. I've only been here seven years, and it means a lot to me." Harpring believes the day can make the Jazz Longtime Jazz center Jarron Collins also knows playing after the funeral of the team owner/biggest fan will be a challenge. "It's going to be very difficult," he said. "I know there's motivation to win each and every time we step out there on the court, but we'll have that added motivation to get the game for Mr. Miller and continue on as he would want us to do ? win, and play hard, and do the things he believed in and stressed in his life." Contributing: Tim Buckley E-mail: jody@desnews.com