Iola Blackburn Hill

Iola Blackburn Hill, 93, died July 22nd 2005 at Cypress Court in Mesa, Arizona of natural causes. Iola was born June 2nd 1912 in Lyman, Idaho to Heber and Leona Bybee Blackburn. She graduated in 1930 from Madison High School. In May 1934 she married Kenneth Johnson Hill and they made their home in Rigby where they operated a service station and later on owned a Hardware and Furniture Store. She was an active community leader, serving as President of the P.T.A., Rigby Study Club, and was the 1st President of the Jefferson Hills Ladies Golf Association. She was also active in the L.D.S. Church serving in the Relief Society and M.I.A. She worked for the Post Register for over 20 years as a reporter and writing feature articles and for the Salt Lake Tribune and Eastern Idaho Farmer. She served as president of the Idaho Falls Writers League and was voted Writer of the Year. She was an accomplished artist and seamstress. In 1942 she and 2 friends Ethel Johnson and Grace Jones “The Three Grandmas” began entertaining throughout the upper Snake River Valley, volunteering their musical skits for countless clubs, church and service organizations, up until her 80th birthday. After retiring she and her husband spent their winters in Queen Valley, Arizona and summers at their cabin on Moose Creek in Island Park. She is survived by her four children, Valerie H. (Jim) Mitchell of Rigby, Karolyn (Gary) Johnson of Mesa, Arizona, Shannon (Gary) Summers of Rexburg, and Creighton B. (Tammy) Hill of Lenexa, Kansas, one sister, Joyce Smith of Idaho Falls, eleven grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 30, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 West Main Street, Rigby. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery. The family requests that donations be made to Alzheimers of Greater Idaho, 1111 South Orchard Street Suite 200, Boise, Idaho 83705