Leo Hill, my very dear, kind and gentle husband of 73½ years, left us on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at 7:12 a.m., to go home to heaven to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Leo was 95½ years old. Philippians 2:23, “To be with Christ, better by far.”
Leo was born in Santa Rosa, Calif., March 31, 1929, to Fern and Jewel Hill who were fruit pickers. His parents moved to Idaho when Leo was about 6 months old, to Reubens-Craigmont area. Two more children were added to the family, a daughter, Lorraine, and a son, Jimmie.
The family became friends with Wilbur and Belle Watson, who had a son, Everet. When Belle gave birth on the farm to her daughter, Alta May, Jewel was her midwife helping Dr. Collins. Belle later gave birth to another daughter Evabelle. The families remained friends for many years as the children grew up together. At age 8, Leo asked Alta May, at age 5, to marry him when “we grew up.” At age 5, I already loved Leo and said I would. Time passed, so on Feb. 24, 1951, we were married. What a blessing it has been living with this dear, faithful husband nearly 74 years.
Leo attended the Calvary and Fletcher Country grade schools, finishing school with the Craigmont High School class of 1947. He also served in the U.S. Air Force the years of 1948-49.
Leo held many different jobs in our early years, as times were difficult financially in the 1950s and ’60s for us. Eventually, on April 1, 1961, Leo was hired as a maintenance helper for the State of Idaho Transportation Department in Craigmont. In the next four years he was promoted twice to maintenance man, then to maintenance foreman on U.S. Highway 12 along the Lochsa River from Kamiah to the Lolo Pass. We lived in state houses at Powell and Lowell.
In 1966, we were visited by a Christian family who shared their faith in Jesus Christ and by a missionary who took us to the Bible to show us how to be saved from our sins. We both trusted the Lord at that time. In the years that followed, our living conditions completely changed as we followed the principles God taught us through His Word.
In 1974, the district maintenance superintendent in Lewiston retired. Leo was chosen to fill that position, which he held until retirement on his 62nd birthday March 31, 1991. This meant a move to Lewiston from living in the Lochsa River area for the past 10 years. We still live in the same home we bought 50 years ago.
Leo, along with his best friend, Tom Schuster, and others, built the Alacca Bible Camp at Harpster. The first camp was held the fall of 1970. Leo and Tom served many years on the Alacca Board as well as counseling the children, seeing many young people trusting Jesus as their Savior.
Leo also served in the Clarkston Heights Fellowship Church at the Grange Hall for 26 years. He gave many years to having a youth group meet in our home once each week after his work day was over. He was always available to serve someone else. His heart and life has been a testimony of God’s love to so many, especially to me, his wife.
For the past 21 years we have been members of the Emmanuel Baptist Church. The pastor is Andrew Scott who will have Leo’s graveside service.
Leo’s grandson, Ron, preceded him in death, as well as two brothers-in-law, Everet and Jack. Survivors are his wife, Alta; daughter Marlene (Doug); sister Lorraine; brother Jimmie; sister-in-law Evabelle; six grandchildren: Kurt (Kelly), Debbie (Andy), Kelby, Ashleigh (Matt), Chris (Audra), Pam (Tom); nine great-grandchildren: Melissa (Mike), Roy, AJ (Mandy), Kaylynn, Willow, Abby, Jacob, Sadie and Kate; three great-great-grandchildren: Myla, Gracie and Noah.
A special thanks to Leo’s doctors for their kindness to him for many years. A huge thank you to Varyl and Peggy for meeting many of our needs these last months. Thank you to all our family and friends for your love and prayers and support.
Because of COVID-19 being so prevalent in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, only a graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens, 3521 Seventh St., Lewiston.
Memorials may be given to Alacca Bible Camp, 101 China Garden Road, Harpster, ID 83552; Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2200 11th Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501, or any other charity of your choice.
