Billy "Bill" Hill

Billy “Bill” George Hill was born on June 27, 1931, in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, to William and Nada Hill and passed away peacefully on October 13, 2022, in Denver, Colorado.  He married his sweetheart, Ellen Owens Hill, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, on May 17, 1951, and they are now together forever.

Bill is survived by his children and grandchildren.

Son, Edward Hill (Laura Keller), his daughter Taylor (Josh) Ames, and great-grandsons Jaxon and Mason.

Daughter, Marsha Fryer, husband Norm, their daughters, Jennifer (Joe) Ryan and Michelle Fryer, and great-grandchildren Juliana, Joseph, and Jackson Ryan.

Son, Anthony Hill, wife Lori, his sons, Dustin (Emily) and Brandon, and great-grandchildren Stockton and Malone.

Son, Ronald Hill, wife Jean, their sons Noah, Nathan, and Samuel.

Bill grew up in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. He was a middle son in a large family. He thrived on his mother’s homemade bread and canned fruit, sleeping on the porch in the summer and going to the family lumber mill. He gifted each of his siblings with a nickname, one they’d hold for the rest of their lives, a tradition that he bestowed upon all the people he loved.

He quit school in the 11th grade and joined the U.S. Army to be closer to his brother Seth. Whenever he’d get mail from home, they’d read his name, Hill, Billy G., and soon he was affectionately known as “Hillbilly.” He drove troop trucks and tanks, but his favorite position was being the personal driver to a General.

Before leaving for the boot camp, he attended a local dance and met the love of his life, Ellen Owens. They exchanged love letters and finally married on May 17, 1951. They remained blissfully married for 66 years until she passed in 2017. They were adventurers, traveling to 48 of the 50 states in their motorhome and enjoying activities such as skiing and boating. Bill had a crooners singing voice and often sang Eddie Arnold and Jim Reeves to Ellen as they danced together in their living room.

Whenever he was home, he focused on his active family and never missed a milestone in his kids’ lives. He loved to cook large family breakfasts on Sundays, singing as he flipped flapjacks and dancing as he scrambled the eggs. The greatest joy in Bill’s life was having these simple love-filled days with his family.

Bill’s mother liked to share the story of Bill sitting on his dad’s lap in their pick-up, saying he wanted to drive the big trucks when he grew up, and that’s just what he did. He drove for Leatham Brothers for four years before driving for IML for 23 more years. After taking early retirement, he purchased and leased his own truck to H&W trucking until time to retire in 1995.

Bill will be remembered for his sense of humor, often making others laugh at his own expense. He even had his own language, which we lovingly call Bill-isms, which kept friends and family in stitches.

He lived a full and happy life, filled with love and laughter, and will be greatly missed. “True story!”