Willard D. Hill

HELENA — Former Mission Valley resident, Willard D. Hill, 74, of Helena, died at the family home on May 1, 2005 after a brief illness.

The son of Sidney Roland and Virgin Mary Ormond Hill, Willard was born on Jan. 28, 1931, in Greene County, N.C. As Willard was growing up, his family lived in the Snow Hill area, Hookerton, and Newport, N.C., where he attended high school.

As a young boy, Willard was never far from his hunting rifle, fishing pole, or bird dog. Seeking some adventure, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1949. After serving a term in the Navy, he returned to North Carolina to farm tobacco land with his grandfather, Roland Hill. After only one season of farming, Willard realized there was more to see in the world than the back end of a plow mule, and he again re-joined the military, this time in the U.S. Air Force.

While stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, traveling back to North Carolina for the holidays was just too far to go. Willard's friend, Dale Thomas, invited him to join his family back at home in Arlee for Thanksgiving in 1953.

Thanksgiving holidays were always special for Willard as he remembers that fateful King family gathering in Arlee as the beginning of his life-long partnership with Dale's stepsister, Beverly King.

After thousands of miles back and forth between Arlee and Spokane, Willard and Beverly were married in St. Ignatius on April 2, 1955.

Willard and Beverly immediately relocated to Wichita Falls, Texas, where Willard completed his time in the Air Force as an instructor for airplane mechanics.

They returned to St. Ignatius, where they operated the Rite Way Freezer locker plant. Despite 12-hour days, six days a week, Willard, again was never far from his rifle, fishing pole, or bird dog, Sandy.

In 1960, Willard sought to complete a college degree, first at the university in Missoula, and later at Montana State College in Bozeman.

In a record time of 22 months, he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Agricultural Education in December 1961. A highlight of his college days was the honor of escorting a delegation of Future Farmers of America to their National Convention in Kansas City.

Willard was pleased to obtain a position with the Farmers Home Administration after graduation. He served the FHA in Polson, Whitehall, Sidney, and finally in Hamilton. Once settled in Hamilton, Willard and Beverly welcomed their son K.C. to the family in 1963.

The family transferred to Helena in 1966, where Willard worked in the Loan Guaranty Department at the Veterans Administration, Fort Harrison, until his retirement in 1986.

He was fortunate to retire at an early age, which allowed him to enjoy his outdoor passions full-time.

Over the succeeding years, Willard wore out several pickups, rifles, fishing poles, and enjoyed his faithful bird dog companion, Kim.

In addition to his outdoor interests, Willard also took up wood carving in retirement. His entire family is honored to have received gifts of his duck carvings. He also became passionate for watching NASCAR races, and we all knew not to call him while the races were on. Nevertheless, he always saw to it that dinner was on the table every night when Beverly came home from work until her retirement in 2000.

Willard's family includes his devoted wife of 50 years, Beverly King Hill, and their son, K.C. Hill of Helena. His favorite sister, Anna Ruth Johnson of Grifton, N.C., also survives him. Willard had a special relationship with his nieces and nephews, Robert Edward Johnson, Lott Johnson, Traci Vaile, Doug King, and Bob King.

His parents, and his nieces Kelli King Baker and Christiana Johnson Broadway preceded him in death.

Willard always considered his Montana home to be the Mission Valley. Each time he would drive across the top of Ravalli hill, he would proclaim that he felt younger and better just by seeing the Mission Mountains. It's fitting that he returned to the foothills of the Mission Mountains at a graveside service with Masonic rites at the Pleasant View Cemetery, St. Ignatius, on May 6.

Arrangements were under the direction of Retz Funeral Home of Helena.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Masonic Home of Montana, 2010 Masonic Home Road, Helena, MT 59602.