Merlin Georald Hill
Born: 4 May 1939
Died: 30 Jul 2015
At the age of: 76
Plot Number:
Spouse: Celia Faye Dance Hill, Diana Powell Hill
Children: Ryan, Sterling, David, Monica, Minon, Nicole, Mike, Bobbi Jo
Parents: Merlin G Hill, Ruth Homer Hill
Obituary:
Merlin Georald Hill, Jr., 76, passed away at his home in Burley, Idaho, on Thursday, July 30, 2015, of natural causes.
Merlin was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 4, 1939, to Merlin G. and Ruth Homer Hill. He raised in Jackson, Wyo., and Meridian, Idaho, the oldest of five children. After high school, Merlin served in the United States Air Force Reserve for two years and then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Swiss/Austrian Mission, where he became fluent in German. After returning from his mission, he married Celia Dance and was the father of three boys and three girls. Celia passed away and he married Diana Powell, of Burley, in the Provo Utah LDS Temple on June 3, 1988. They had 27 wonderful years together, the highlight of which was his 40-year mission reunion in Vienna, Austria, in 2005.
Merlin was a police officer in Idaho Falls and had a long-haul trucking company prior to working for the Idaho Department of Transportation for a number of years. Through his experiences there, he had many interesting stories to share around the Christmas-dinner table about driving the snow plow.
He was a member of the LDS Church, was an Eagle Scout, and had served in many Boy Scout callings. He also served as a counselor in the bishopric and held numerous other church callings throughout his life. He served in the Boise Idaho LDS Temple for ten years and the Twin Falls Idaho LDS Temple for five years, loving every minute of his service. Merlin was passionate about family history. Aside from his own family history work, he enjoyed teaching others how to perform their own family work.
He was well known for his home-built cannon that he took to shooting competitions and shot for the last time this year at the ward 4th of July breakfast to the delight of all those attending.
He is survived by his wife, Diana; three sons, Ryan (Brenda) Hill of Boise, Sterling Hill of Cascade, and David (Janel) Christofferson of Lehi, Utah; three daughters, Monica (Tom) Broadbent of Hyrum, Utah, Minon (Duane) Call of Nampa, and Nicole (David) Doerr of Spanish Fork, Utah; as well as a son, Mike Glenn, of Provo, Utah; a daughter, Bobbi Jo (Brandon) Strong, of Meridian; 21 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Jack (Laura) Hill of Burley, and three sisters, Pam (Ben) Cluff of Vernal, Utah, Maridee (Dan) Perkins of Idaho Falls, and Dana McClellan of Idaho Falls.
The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Burley LDS 3rd and 7th Ward Church, 2200 Oakley Ave., with Bishop Brent Winn officiating. Burial will follow at the Valley Vu Cemetery in Malta with military honors provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Funeral Program:
