Billie W. 'Bill' Hill

Monday, August 30, 2004

Dec. 30, 1925-Aug. 28, 2004

KEARNEY -- Billie W. "Billie" Hill, 78, died Saturday (Aug. 28, 2004) at his residence in Kearney.

He was born Dec. 30, 1925, to Owen and Ferdella (Reed) Hill in Arapahoe. He graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1943. He enrolled at the University of Nebraska Lincoln where he played football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers until he entered the service on March 30, 1944.

He served in the Marine Corps 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, Company K. He participated in the invasion in Okinawa and was awarded the Purple Heart. Bill was discharged from the service on April 18, 1946. Following his discharge he attended McCook Junior College and then Denver University where he also played football.

He was employed as a heavy equipment operator and helped on construction of dams on the Republican River and also construction on I-80. He also worked as an insurance agent for Security Mutual Life Insurance Company and was an alcoholism counselor at the Hastings Regional Center. He retired in 1995.

He was a member of the St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Kearney, VFW Post No. 759 and AA in Kearney and a member of the McCook Elks Lodge for 46 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one son, Michael O., on May 28, 2004.

Survivors include his wife, Jean of Kearney; one son, Jerry Hill and his wife, Pam of Kearney; four sisters, Janet Irlmeier and her husband, Jack of Kearney, Jill Sage and her husband, Pete of Kearney, Nancy Anderson and her husband, Bill of Orleans and Peggy Verbeck and husband, Monty of Funk; one sister, Bettie Gull of McCook; and five grandchildren.

Services are Wednesday, 2 p.m., at the St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Kearney with the Revs. Tom Hansen and Charles Peek officiating. Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery with military rites at the grave by American Legion Post No. 52 and VFW Post No. 759.

Visitation is Tuesday, 5-8 p.m., at Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary and one hour prior to services Wednesday afternoon at the church.

Memorials maybe given to the Good Samaritan Hospice Program or to the St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary of Kearney is in charge of the arrangements