Dorothy Luella Hill

D. Luella Hill

Even the biggest and strongest hearts give out eventually. That is what happened to me. On June 26, 2008, my old ticker finally stopped ticking. My name is Dorothy Luella Peterson Hill. My friends call me Lue or Luella. I was born in Loa, Utah on July 4, 1938, in a real log cabin. Think about that! How many people do you know who were born in a log cabin? The 4th of July is a great day for a birthday. Every year people come from near and far to celebrate my birthday with parades and fireworks.

My parents were William Wayne Peterson and Dorothy Bronson Peterson. I had one older sister, Ruby, and two older brothers, Neil, and Clark. We moved from Loa to Washington Terrace when I was five years old, and I have lived in the Terrace ever since. I survived rheumatic fever when I was five years old, spending a year in bed; only to have the results of this disease damage one of my heart valves, causing my death sixty five years later. In addition, I triumphed over polio at age twelve. I spent six months in the hospital and surprised the doctors when I was able to regain my motor skills and live an active life. I graduated from Weber High School in 1957 and married my high school sweetheart, Darwin "Joe" Hill, on December 23, 1957 in Evanston, Wyoming.

Darwin and I were blessed with four children, Scott, Douglas, Kristen and David, and five grandchildren, Heath, Holton, Dylan, Ryan and Elizabeth. I will always have a special love in my heart for my daughter in laws Lisa and Patty for giving me my greatest joy of being a grandma. I will always love my sweet almost daughter in law, Diane Bodily. Thank You for letting me unofficially adopt you, your husband, Dean, and children, Adrian, Natasha, Aaron and Austin. I also loved my hairdresser, Everett Blazer, with all my heart. You brightened my life every week.

My greatest life's work was being a mother to my children. No matter how old they are they are they will always be my "babies." When my youngest child started grade school I began working at Defense Depot Ogden with 26 years of service, retiring as an accounting supervisor

I have been a member of the Washington Terrace Tenth Ward for the last thirty one years. I loved my fifteen year calling as a Primary teacher. I was also active as a Cub Scout Den mother when my boys were younger and for two years in the tenth ward. In addition, I was the stake librarian for ten years. I was privileged to be a visiting teacher for many years with my only visiting teaching companion and friend, Nelda Housely. I was blessed to go to the temple to take out my endowments in December 2006.

I am survived by my husband of fifty years, Darwin; children, Scott, Doug (Lisa) Hill, Kristen, and David. My extraordinary grandchildren, Heath Hill, Marine Private Holton Hill, Dylan, Ryan and Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hill. I am also survived by my sister, Ruby Fuit of Washington Terrace and Clark (Annette), Peterson, of Jeremy Ranch, and many nieces and nephews. I am preceded in death by my parents, and older brother, Neil Peterson.

Lastly, I would like to thank my dear daughter, Kristen, and husband, Darwin, for their tender loving care over the last two years. My dear Diane thank you for helping our family in the last week of my life. I will be forever indebted to our wonderful home teacher of thirty years, and current Bishop of the tenth ward, Dan Rhodes. I am very grateful for the high quality medical care provided over the last fifteen months by Dr. Gary Mackenzie, Dr. Alan Abdulla, the Heart Failure Clinic at McKay Dee Hospital, and IHC Hospice. The peace provided in knowing finally what was physically wrong with me was immeasurable. And to all those other doctors over the last ten years who could not figure out what was wrong with me I just have to repeat the famous last words of my brother Neil, "I told you I was sick."

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2008, at the Washington Terrace Tenth ward at 125 East 5350 So., Washington Terrace at 1:00 p.m. Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday July 2, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on July 3, 2008 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to the celebration of my life.

Interment at Lindquist's Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the LDS Church Missionary Fund, the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund, or the American Heart Association.

Arrangements under the direction of Aaron's Mortuary & Crematory, 1600 Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT.