Betty Jean Hill

Betty Jean Owens Hill, 97, passed away on August 11, 2024, in Rexburg, Idaho. She was born January 3, 1927, in Teton City, Idaho, to Eugene and Ethel Richman Owens.

She grew up in Teton with one brother and three sisters, attending schools in Teton, Rexburg and St. Anthony. She graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1945. After graduation, she lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she worked at a recruitment office for the US Army.

Shortly after returning to Teton, Betty and her high school sweetheart, Dale A. Hill, eloped and were married on April 10, 1947, at the Beaverhead County Courthouse in Dillon, Montana. They lived with Dale’s parents at the Hill family home outside of St. Anthony for a few months, then moved into an apartment attached to the garage. They lived near Salmon, Idaho, for a short time, then returned to St. Anthony into the main house where she lived most of her life.

She had always hoped to have a large family, a dream that came true with the birth of nine children. She was an excellent cook and worked hard to provide a good home for her family. One of her main concerns was that everyone always had enough to eat.

Betty was an active member of the LDS Church. Their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 22, 1965. She served in many callings as a member of the Twin Groves, Wilford 1st and St. Anthony 2nd Wards. She and Dale served as missionaries at the St. Anthony Family History Center for 18 months.

Betty worked at JC Penney’s in St. Anthony before being asked to work in the Fremont County Assessor’s Office in 1968. She worked there for many years before moving to the Clerk’s Office, where she was sworn in as chief deputy in April 1974. She was appointed to be the County Clerk when her boss retired, and was elected to the position in 1983. She was elected twice and held the position until June 1989, when she retired.

Betty enjoyed piano playing, gardening, camping, pack trips, traveling, family gatherings and “spud nut day” when family would gather to make homemade donuts. She embroidered and crocheted many afghans, pillowcases and dishtowels for her family until failing eyesight made it impossible for her to continue.

She and Dale were honored to be the Grand Marshals of the St. Anthony Pioneer Days Celebration in 2001.

They traveled to Wickenburg, Ariz., and Hurricane, Utah, several months each winter to be with friends and family. Dale passed away in 2006 in St. George, Utah, while they were wintering there. She returned to her home at St. Anthony where she lived until spending a few years in Nampa, Meridian and Boise with her son and daughter. She eventually returned to St. Anthony where she lived with her son. She then moved to Homestead Assisted Living in St. Anthony before moving to Carriage Cove Rehabilitation in Rexburg, where she passed away. The staff at Carriage Cove was especially kind to her and she had many friends there and at Homestead.

Betty is survived by seven of her children, Shauna Jean Ringel of Saratoga Springs, Utah, Richard (Julie Ann) Hill of Idaho Falls, Jeff Hill of Boise, Marianne (Steve) Bowman of Idaho Falls, Lisa (Rick) Turner of St. Anthony, Brett (Matthew) Hill of Ensenada, BC, Mexico, and Chris (Becky) Hill of St. Anthony; daughter-in-law Gracie Hill of St. Anthony; 25 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale A. Hill, sons Bruce Hill and Scott Hill, son-in-law Brad Ringel, her parents, brother Blaine Owens, and sisters Rayola Singleton, Coleen Kirkham and Peggy Strain.

The family will meet with friends Friday, August 16, 2024, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the Wilford LDS Church, 215 Teton Highway, St. Anthony, and again Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Funeral services will be held at the church beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will be at the Wilford Cemetery under the direction of Bert Flamm Mortuary.

The funeral service will be live-streamed by Bert Flamm Mortuary, St. Anthony. A link can be found in their website: https://www.flammfh.com