JoAnn Hill, 73

JoAnn Hill died peacefully at The Springs in Whitefish on Aug. 16, 2010, at the age of 73. 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 old Kalispell hospital, where she met her future mother-in-law who introduced JoAnn to her future husband. She married Russell Rusty E. 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 over 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, Rusty; her parents; sisters, Jean and Marilou; her brother, Bill; and sister-in-law, Francis Wolfe. JoAnn is survived by her children, CPT Gary L. Hill, USA (ret.), wife, Lisa, and children, Jason, Michael, Sara and Maria of Olney; Tina and Scott Murray, and children, Brad and Brett, of Whitefish; MSG Arnold D. Hill, USA, wife, Sheila, and daughters, Desi, Felicia, JoAnn and Trisha of Fort Lewis, Wash.; Letty and Marc Swanson, and children, Tara and Jerry of Seward, Alaska; Joe Hill, wife, Kelly, and sons, Zack, Griffin and Eli, of Whitefish; Gene and Teri Hill, and sons, Rusty, Jesse and Cody, of Whitefish; Bill and Brandy Hill, and children, Levi, Kaci and Deklan of Whitefish; and Aaron Hill, and children, Kathryn and Aaris of Whitefish; her brother, Bob Wolfe; and sisters, Carolyn Kent, Rosalyn Milam and Barb Lengstorf. JoAnn is also survived by seven great-grandchildren. The Hill family would like to thank the caring staff at The Springs in Whitefish and the caregivers from Frontier Hospice for their compassion and support of JoAnn and the Hill family. Mermorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, at St. Charles Borromeo in Whitefish. Private internment will be held at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to Frontier Hospice. Arrangements by Austin Funeral Home.