Donald Gifford Hill, age 77, of Boulder, Colorado, passed away at his home on December 17th, 2015 with his family by his side. His passing brought an end to his suffering after an extended illness. Donald was born in Gibson, Idaho on April 5th,1938 to David Earl Hill and Dora Alviteen Gifford Hill; he joined his parents, his older sister Daveen and his older brother Ralph at the family home near Kimball, Idaho. The family grew to include Ellen, Rayola, David and Kent.
In 1958 Don served a two-year Mission in Western Canada for the LDS church before attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah starting in 1960. He graduated from BYU with a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1964. While attending BYU Don met his future wife, Arlene Wimmer and they were married on September 10th, 1962 in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. After graduating from BYU Magna Cum Laude, Don went to work for Bell Laboratories as an Electrical Engineer; his work took him to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Indiana before he finally had the opportunity to move back to the Western U.S. which allowed he and Arlene to be closer to their families. Don and Arlene settled in Boulder, Colorado in 1969 with their son Howard and their daughter Heidi. Another son, Jared, was born about a year after they arrived in Boulder. Donald worked for AT&T until his retirement in 1989; after retiring he continued to work as a consultant and then – as a change and an adventure, he drove an RTD bus.
Donald was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and he was always ready and willing to serve in any capacity he was called to. He served in two different Bishorics, as the Elder’s Quorum President, as a Scout Leader, and as a Stake Missionary here in Boulder. In 1995 Don and Arlene served a one year Family History Mission for the LDS church in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was followed by a second mission from Dec. 2000 – June 2002; they were based in Hong Kong and traveled to Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Mongolia teaching and helping people discover their family history. For many years Don was active in troop 177 of the Boy Scouts of America, leading young men on camping trips, on hikes and climbs in the mountains, and teaching them about how to be good citizens and good people. Don felt at peace and at home in the mountains and during his 40 plus years in Boulder he climbed all Fifty-Four 14000 foot peaks in Colorado as well as climbing the three highest volcanoes in Mexico. Don loved getting up into the High Country, whether on foot or by vehicle, and he would take his children and his friends out in his Ford Bronco for adventures that included driving to the top of 14,000 foot peaks, exploring old mines and overcoming the challenge of driving to places where there weren’t any roads. When there were no roads Don hiked, leading Boy Scouts, friends and family on backpacking adventures to some of the most remote places in the Colorado mountains.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Arlene, his son Howard, his brother Ralph and his sister Ellen. He is survived by his Daughter, Heidi Snow and her children Zachary Snow and Kaylee Snow, his son Jared Hill, and his sisters Daveen Dye and Rayola Septon. Also his brothers David Hill and Kent Hill, and way too many nieces and nephews and cousins to include here.
The family wishes to thank Christopher Gard for his selfless care and his loving and attentive spirit during the year he helped provide care for Don. His assistance allowed Don to stay in his home and gave Don’s children some much needed respite. A heart-felt thank you is also extended to Bill and Dora Emory for their kind support; and for the love they have shown to the Hill Family. Thank you also to Tom and Judy Maxfield for always being there whenever we needed them.
The family requests that any Memorial Donations be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Missionary Fund at www.ldsphilanthropies.org/missionary.
In 1958 Don served a two-year Mission in Western Canada for the LDS church before attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah starting in 1960. He graduated from BYU with a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1964. While attending BYU Don met his future wife, Arlene Wimmer and they were married on September 10th, 1962 in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. After graduating from BYU Magna Cum Laude, Don went to work for Bell Laboratories as an Electrical Engineer; his work took him to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Indiana before he finally had the opportunity to move back to the Western U.S. which allowed he and Arlene to be closer to their families. Don and Arlene settled in Boulder, Colorado in 1969 with their son Howard and their daughter Heidi. Another son, Jared, was born about a year after they arrived in Boulder. Donald worked for AT&T until his retirement in 1989; after retiring he continued to work as a consultant and then – as a change and an adventure, he drove an RTD bus.
Donald was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and he was always ready and willing to serve in any capacity he was called to. He served in two different Bishorics, as the Elder’s Quorum President, as a Scout Leader, and as a Stake Missionary here in Boulder. In 1995 Don and Arlene served a one year Family History Mission for the LDS church in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was followed by a second mission from Dec. 2000 – June 2002; they were based in Hong Kong and traveled to Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Mongolia teaching and helping people discover their family history. For many years Don was active in troop 177 of the Boy Scouts of America, leading young men on camping trips, on hikes and climbs in the mountains, and teaching them about how to be good citizens and good people. Don felt at peace and at home in the mountains and during his 40 plus years in Boulder he climbed all Fifty-Four 14000 foot peaks in Colorado as well as climbing the three highest volcanoes in Mexico. Don loved getting up into the High Country, whether on foot or by vehicle, and he would take his children and his friends out in his Ford Bronco for adventures that included driving to the top of 14,000 foot peaks, exploring old mines and overcoming the challenge of driving to places where there weren’t any roads. When there were no roads Don hiked, leading Boy Scouts, friends and family on backpacking adventures to some of the most remote places in the Colorado mountains.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Arlene, his son Howard, his brother Ralph and his sister Ellen. He is survived by his Daughter, Heidi Snow and her children Zachary Snow and Kaylee Snow, his son Jared Hill, and his sisters Daveen Dye and Rayola Septon. Also his brothers David Hill and Kent Hill, and way too many nieces and nephews and cousins to include here.
The family wishes to thank Christopher Gard for his selfless care and his loving and attentive spirit during the year he helped provide care for Don. His assistance allowed Don to stay in his home and gave Don’s children some much needed respite. A heart-felt thank you is also extended to Bill and Dora Emory for their kind support; and for the love they have shown to the Hill Family. Thank you also to Tom and Judy Maxfield for always being there whenever we needed them.
The family requests that any Memorial Donations be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Missionary Fund at www.ldsphilanthropies.org/missionary.
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