James V. Hill, 73

James V. Hill, 73, was a resident of Bullhead City, Arizona, for 13 years. He passed away on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.

He was born in Spokane on Nov. 17,1943, and was the first child of James W. Hill and Geneva Bowman Hill Vestre.

Jim moved to Kalispell when he was 3 months old and attended school in and around Kalispell. He graduated from Flathead County High School in 1961 and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduation. After the Navy he worked in California and Idaho before moving to Washington where he worked at McChord Air Force Base as a maintenance manager for 28 years. He retired in 2002 and moved to Arizona to enjoy the sun.

James was preceded in death by his father James Woodrow Hill, and his mother Geneva Mae Bowman Hill Vestre, and grandmothers Gertie Lang and Mary Etta Cyr, formerly of Kalispell.

James is survived by his partner Edith Nicholson Hjelm, his son James A. Hill of Gig Harbor, Washington, and his children Alex, Kori Rose, and Joseph; a daughter Heather L. Alfaro Hill of

New Braunfels, Texas, and her children Crystal and Colton, and one great-granddaughter Sophia. He is also survived by his brother Tim Hill (Debby), and sisters, Neva Joy Fraleigh of Kalispell and Vicki (David) Lyons of Eureka; and by a half sister Mary Hill, and a half brother Wally (Debbie) Hill of Laurel.

James has numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews whom he loved with his whole heart; as well as his aunt, Mabel Caldwell of Lacey, Washington, and his uncle, Vern (Phyllis) Hill of Yuba City, California; Edith’s children, Christopher (Melody) Hutton of Pacific, Washington, and William (Wendy) Hutton of Surprise, Arizona, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom they called Papa Jim.

A celebration of life will be held in Kalispell at a later date.