Herbert Hill

Herbert Jackson Hill, born August 25, 1924, in Portland, Oregon, died peacefully in his sleep on January 29, 2017, in Orem, Utah, surrounded by his family.  He is preceded in death by his parents, John Griffin Hill and Henrietta Hurdman, his older sister Bessie Nollsch, twin sister Hazel Debbold Hanson, grandson Tyler Griffin Hill and great grandson Jacob Dee (“JD”) Hill.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Joyce Standing Hill, five children--Steve (Tauni), Tracy (Joeen), Ron (Karen), Katie (Steve Williams) and Sharon (Gordon Rose)--26 grandchildren, and 53 great grandchildren.

He graduated from Oregon City High School in 1941, and served in the US Army in the 97th Infantry Division during World War II as part of Patton's army.  He participated in the liberation of the Floessenburg concentration camp, and was among the first American troops to meet the highly inebriated Russian army in Czechoslovakia at the end of the war.

Following the war he enrolled at Oregon State College, where he met his wife Joyce, and graduated from that institution in 1949.  He worked briefly for Albers Milling Company in Berkeley, California, and returned in 1952 to his hometown of Portland, Oregon, where he worked most of his career for Standard Insurance Company, first as controller and later as a highly successful agent and agency manager.

A convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following marriage, he served faithfully in many callings, including financial clerk, young men's president, bishop of the Portland 10th Ward, president of the Portland Oregon Stake, and president of the Connecticut Hartford Mission.

He survived illnesses that would have felled most people, including coronary disease that twice required bypass surgery, prostate cancer, and multiple broken bones, including shoulder, elbow, ankle, foot and hip fractures.  His ability to survive is a testament both to his grit and his devotion to his wife, who he was determined not to leave alone.

He had a facility with numbers, including both memorizing and adding long columns of numbers in his head.  This did not translate to success in the stock market.  Despite his enthusiasm for trading, he had the unfortunate propensity to buy high and sell low.

He loved sports, and passed the sports gene to his children and on down through the generations, though it appears to have been diluted or even vanished in some of his posterity.  He played golf with friends into his 80s until it no longer was physically possible for him to do so.   He was a fan of the Oregon State Beavers and Portland Trail Blazers.  He taught his sons the Oregon State Beaver fight song when they were so young they had no idea what a beaver was.  After moving from Oregon to Utah following retirement, he transferred allegiance to the BYU Cougars, where sons and grandchildren played on intercollegiate baseball, football, basketball and soccer teams.

His life was characterized by devotion to family, hard work, organization, careful planning, reliability, and ability to set and attain goals.  He demanded much of himself, constantly strived to improve, and expected no less from others.  Having lived a busy and active life, he surprised his family with his patience in dealing with the infirmities of advanced age.  Among the last survivors of the Greatest Generation, he leaves a legacy of accomplishment and service.

The family thanks Valeo Home Health and Hospice for the outstanding care they provided during his final months.

Friends may call on Friday, February 3, 2017, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2017, at the LDS chapel, 225 E 200 N, Orem, Utah, where friends may call from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the service.  Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery.