Alda Hills

WAUBAY- Alda Hills, 90 of Sheridan, Wyoming and formally of Waubay died on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at Sheridan Manor in Sheridan. Her funeral will be Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 10:00 A.M. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Waubay. Burial will be at Lakewood Cemetery, Waubay. Visitation will be prior to services at the church. Fiksdal Funeral Service of Webster is in charge of the arrangements. Alda Lucille (Johnson) Hills was born May 22, 1916 at East Granite Falls, Minnesota, in Chippewa County, to John Martin Johnson and Alice Marie (Swenson) Johnson. She was the 4th child and had one sister and two brothers. Alda was baptized at home by the Reverend Michael Eriksen in November of 1916. Alda grew up in the Granite Falls community attending grade school at Granite Falls Elementary as well as Day School District #72 in rural Granite Falls. She was a member of the United Lutheran Church, along with her family, and was confirmed by the Reverend O.J. Eriksen in 1930. Alda attended Granite Falls High School and graduated during “the great depression” in 1934. She worked as a clerk in several grocery stores as well as at the Ben Franklin Store, and was also employed with the Granite Falls City Recreation Department. During those post-high school years Alda also taught Sunday School at United Lutheran Church for eight years. On October 24, 1942 Alda was united in marriage to Cresent Daniel Hills of Waubay, South Dakota. They made their home in Waubay where they owned and operated a Gambles hardware store until retirement in 1971. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Ruth Ann and Daniel. Alda and Cresent were long time members of Our Savior’s Lutheran church. Alda’s service to the church included serving as Sunday School Superintendent for 15 years, teaching Sunday School, serving as Dean of Girls at Pickeral Lake Bible Camp for 16 years, acting as an advisor/leader of the Luther League, and holding several offices with the ALCW, and later with WELCA and the Friendship Circle. Alda also served a term as the District President of the Women’s Mission Federation of the Lutheran Free Church as well as holding offices with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Alda also served as a member of the Our Savior’s church council, ending her last term in 1991, at the age of seventy five. Alda was instrumental in efforts to keep the Hills and Johnson families and descendants together as she planned and hosted 6 family reunions in the late 1990’s through 2001. Alda is fondly remembered by her numerous nieces and nephews, and their children, as a caring parent-like supporter in their times of sorrow and celebration. She is survived by her daughter RuthAnn and spouse, Doug Tollin of Parker, CO; by her son, Daniel, and his spouse, Laurel of Sheridan, WY. Also surviving Alda are five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Alda was proceeded in death by her parents, her two brothers and one sister, and by her husband, Cresent. In writing this, her own, obituary in 1988, Alda concludes that “when ‘my story’ ends, I know how it will end--Praise God! --because, as it says in John 3:16, “whoever believes in Him should not perish but will have eternal life.’” AMEN!!