JoAnn Hill

JoAnn Hill, 73, died peacefully at The Springs in Whitefish on Aug. 16, 2010.

She was born Nov. 12, 1936, in Anaconda to Frank and Anna (Gillespie) Wolfe. She grew up in Anaconda and Somers. During high school she was a proud member of FFA and 4-H. She graduated from Flathead County High School in 1954.

JoAnn worked as nurse's aid at the former Kalispell hospital, where she met her future mother-in-law who introduced JoAnn to her future husband. She married Russell "Rusty" Hill Jr., on Sept. 24, 1955. They resided in Somers and Kalispell before finally settling in Whitefish, where they raised eight children.

When her youngest child started school, JoAnn attended beauty school in Kalispell. She worked in a salon for a few years before purchasing what became the Golden Mirror Beauty Salon. JoAnn operated the salon for more than 25 years before retiring. Along the way, JoAnn's customers became her lifelong friends.

She was also an active member of many community organizations. JoAnn enjoyed painting, art, music, attending church, camping and visiting family and friends around her dining room table, and family get-togethers. The Hill house was a welcoming home to everyone, and JoAnn was there with a smile. JoAnn was naturally imbued with a giver's heart and was never one to complain.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters Jean and Marilou, brother Bill and sister-in-law Francis Wolfe.

She is survived by her son Capt. Gary Hill 'ret.), his wife Lisa and their children Jason, Michael, Sara and Maria, of Olney; daughter Tina Murray, her husband Scott and their children Brad and Brett, of Whitefish; son Master Sgt. Arnold Hill, his wife Sheila and their children Desi, Felicia, JoAnn and Trisha, of Fort Lewis, Wash.; daughter Letty Swanson, her husband Marc and their children Tara and Jerry, of Seward, Alaska; son Joe Hill, his wife Kelly and their childrenn Zack, Griffin and Eli, of Whitefish; son Gene Hill, his wife Teri and their children Rusty, Jesse and Cody, of Whitefish; son Bill Hill, his wife Brandy and their children Levi, Kaci and Deklan, of Whitefish; and son Aaron Hill and his children Kathryn and Aaris, of Whitefish; brother Bob Wolfe; sisters Carolyn Kent, Rosalyn Milam and Barb Lengstorf; and seven great grandchildren.

Mermorial Mass took place at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Whitefish on Aug. 23, 2010, with private internment at Glacier Memorial Gardens.