Kyle Van Zee

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Kyle Van Zee, 42, of Miller, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Kennewick, Washington.

Celebration of Kyle's life will be 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Miller Community Center. Burial of ashes will be at G.A.R. Cemetery in Miller, and spreading of ashes at Flying S Ranch, at a later date.

Kyle Devan Van Zee was born in Portland, Oregon, but spent the majority of his years in Pierre and Miller, South Dakota.  His grandparents, aunts, and uncles were the village that raised him, in addition to his mom, Theresa, and dad, Jesse Rogers.  In 8th grade, he was able to permanently come home to Miller and graduate from Miller High School in 2001.  

Kyle had many jobs, working several at a time to support himself through high school and young adulthood, but he found a career with the oilfield, starting as a floorhand or “worm” for DHS in Colorado.  “Biggins” as he was known by all his roughneck friends, lived life in a rotation.  Work was all business and focus, and home was a vacation where he could enjoy the rewards of his sacrifices.  He worked his way up through the ranks, earning the title of Toolpusher for Cyclone Drilling during the oil boom.  His favorite job, though, was driller, where he could run his crew of men.  He was proud when he could accomplish things like setting the record for the fastest hole drilled for his company, earning a perfect score on his well control certification, or finding a solution to the problem that kept that multi-million dollar rig from turning.  He was an excellent teacher, and even begrudgingly showcased that when acting in the movie Boomtown, which was filmed on the set of his last oil job, Raven Drilling.  His latest career of dredging used many of the same skills and equipment he mastered in the oil industry, and the American Process Group became a part of his work family.

Freedom was everything to Kyle, from the rush of a motorcycle ride, fast cars or cage fighting to his famous line “I’ll decide” but when his Grandma Pat asked if he was bringing his “girlfriend” to Thanksgiving of 2007, the “I’ll nevers” Kyle always lived by started to soften.  After many years of building a life together, Kyle and Courtney married on January 1 of 2016 and welcomed the greatest joy and accomplishment of their lives, Cambree Jean, in October 2017.

Kyle was always the life of the party and would do just about anything to keep it going, never wanting to miss out on “cheers” with friends.  Even though life made him grow up fast, he still had the heart of a kid.  He felt most at peace when he could make others laugh.  Kyle was fiercely protective of his people and would do anything for his family, many of whom he chose.  

So grateful to have shared his life are his wife, Courtney, daughter, Cambree Jean; their first born, Maizy, their beloved dog; mother, Theresa Van Zee; father, Jesse Rogers; brothers: Charlie Motez, Cody Rogers, Josh Newcomb, Desmond Graves, Wade Graves, and Joe Graves; sister, Rachael Van Zee; uncle, Michael and aunt, June Van Zee; cousins: Brady and Jessica Van Zee; uncle, Craig and aunt, Pam Van Zee; cousins: Desirae, Derick, and Dexter; and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Desmond and Patricia Van Zee; Homer and Joyce Rogers; and biological father, Christopher Newcomb.

Memorials can be directed to the Hand County Health, Wellness, and Community Foundation with a note for the Miller Swimming Pool Fund.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Kyle's arrangements.