Willis Herman Hill

Willis (Will) H. Hill, age 69, passed away June 12, 2011 at Close to Home Hospice House in Gillette following a short battle with brain cancer. A memorial will be held following cremation at Mount Pisgah Cemetery shelter on Friday, June 17th at 1pm with burial to follow.Will was born on June 25, 1941 to Dave and Helen (Freeman) Hill in Ramona, SD. He attended schools in Trent and Egan before graduating in 1960 from Trent High School. After a year in college, Will joined the Air Force and spent 20 years serving our country. He served in Alaska, Italy, Germany, and Vietnam, among others, before retiring in 1981. On November 26, 1965 in Trent, SD, he married Virginia Ginger Peterson. Of this union, two children were bornDavid and Deborah. Will and Ginger later divorced.Will met and married his best friend and soul mate, Connie Steichen, on September 28, 1979 in Rapid City, SD. In 1980, Will adopted Connies son, Bret, and raised him as his own. Of his marriage to Connie, a daughter, Jodi, was born at Ellsworth Air Force Base in 1981.Will worked for Todd Service & Supply in ND before joining the United States Postal Service in Gillette in June 1983. He worked as a dispatch clerk for many years before becoming a window clerk late in his career. He was known as much for his holiday ties and suspenders as he was for handing out candy canes and/or Tootsie Rolls. After 20 years with the Postal Service, Will retired in June 2003. Retirement proved too much for him and he spent the last few years working for the City of Gillette parks department, caring for Dalbey Park.He was known by family and friends for his sense of humor, practical jokes, down-to-earth nature, and unwavering generosity. Will never met a stranger, able to stop and shoot the breeze with anyone at the drop of a hat. He enjoyed yard work, barbequing, taking walks, and spending time with his beloved calico cat, Karma. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Connie of Gillette, WY; two sons David Hill of Sioux Falls, SD and Bret (Michelle) Hill of Kuna, ID; two daughters Deborah McIsaac of Sioux Falls, SD and Jodi (Jason) Howley of Gillette, WY; grandchildren Timothy of Kuna, ID, Jacqueline of Sioux Falls, SD and Gabriel of Kuna, ID; brother Doug Hill and twin brother Bill Hill; sisters Norma Nordman, Lois VandeKieft and Helen Furney; and numerous nieces and nephews.Will was preceded in death by his parents Dave and Helen Hill; brothers Don and Norman Hill; and niece Joylene Fink. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to benefit The Close to Home Hospice and Hospitality House of Campbell County Memorial Hospital. Memorials and condolences may be sent in Will's name to Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY. Condolences may also be sent via the website to www.walkerfuneralgillette.com Funeral Home:Walker Funeral Home410 Medical Arts CourtGillette, WYUS 82716