Raynesford MT —John Felix Hill, 75, of Raynesford, MT changed his address to Heaven on Thursday Dec. 3, 2015, at home with Lois by his side.
He was born in Great Falls on Jan. 30, 1940 to Felix and Anna Hill of Geyser MT.
John attended the one room Davis Creek School through 8th grade, then Geyser High where he fell in love with Lois Klind and they tied the knot on Nov. 4, 1957. John always said "and not a slip knot either."
They were blessed with three children, Mary (Jeanne) of Raynesford, MT; Lyle (Kathy) and their sons Cody & Justin of Huntley, MT and Lureen Ann, Heaven.
John had a lifelong love of ranching, and together with Lois they ranched at Geyser and Worden, MT, retiring in 2003. They raised cattle, grains and registered Quarter Horses. They also had an outfitting and summer guest business for almost 40 years and housed one of Geyser's fire trucks on the ranch to help with fire response north of Geyser. John served on the board of the Montana Outfitters & Guides Assn., Geyser School Board and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Raynesford.
John competed in rodeos most of his younger years, and qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals. He then steer wrestled and team roped in the Northern Rodeo Association and had one of the top steer wrestling team of horses in the state.
John felt great joy in helping others in any way he could. You could see the joy in his eyes when small children were on his lap or being entertained. Several young people lived with John & Lois and attend school in Geyser. Their ranch was home for many foreign agricultural exchange students. John would never turn down a piece of pie or a cribbage game.
John smoked for 50 years therefore battled lung and heart problems for many years. He would encourage people not to smoke or stop smoking.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Felix and Anna Hill, daughter LuAnn Hill, sisters Peggy Stenzel and Teresa Tower and in-laws Art and Lureen Klind. John is survived by his immediate family, his sister Jean Anderson of Raynesford, brother Ray Hill (Kathy) of Raynesford, brother-in-law Doug Tower, of Missoula, and brother Oscar Hill (Betty) of Lovell, WY along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The vigil and sharing of stories will be on Friday, Dec 11 at 7 pm at the Geyser Community Hall, in Geyser. Funeral mass will be on Dec 12 at 11 am at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Belt, followed by a Celebration of Life reception at 1:30 pm at the Geyser Community Hall. Burial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials for the repair of the Geyser Community Hall, Box 3, Geyser, MT 59447 would be appreciated.
Condolences can be posted at
www.oconnorfuneralhome.com
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