Helen V. Hill

Helen was born May 29, 1926 in Wilmot, South Dakota to Jay Vick and Hilda Melbostad, whose parents had all immigrated from Norway in the mid 1800’s. One of seven children, Helen grew up in Sioux Falls, S.D. where she graduated from Washington High School, studied at Augustana College, and then earned her registered nurse diploma from Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing. She served in the Nurse Cadet Corp in Sioux Falls and Topeka, Kansas, where she met her first husband, Dr. Charles L. Mount Jr.

While Dr. Mount served in the U.S Army they were stationed in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas before finally settling in Norman, Oklahoma, where they raised 3 children, Charles III, Susan and Peter. After divorcing in 1966 Helen married Russell C Hill in 1971 and lived in Norman until moving to Grand Junction in 2009 to be closer to family.

Helen loved her career in nursing, working in acute care settings at several hospitals in Oklahoma City and then at the student health center at the University of Oklahoma. She was an avid gardener and reader and enjoyed ball-room dancing, travel, Oklahoma football, and socializing with her many friends. Her faith and service to the church were important to her throughout her life. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Grand Junction.

She is preceded in death by husband, Russell; brothers, John, Windsor and Roger Vick; a sister, Dorothy Budgett; and a son Charles Mount III, who was killed in action in Viet Nam.

She leaves behind her brother, Tom Vick (Anita) of San Diego; her sister, Pat Houck of Cardiff By the Sea, CA.; brother-in-law, Gerald Budgett of Mesa, AZ; her daughter Susan Bardeen (Norman) of Grand Junction, CO; and son, Peter Mount of Marietta, GA; in addition to five grandchildren, Greg Corliss (Alicia), Gretchen Schweitzer (David), Anthony Corliss (Jessica), Sean Mount (Jillian), Sam Mount; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A family memorial service is planned for a later date. Donations in Helen’s memory can be made to HopeWest Hospice of Grand Junction, Doctors Without Borders, Alzheimer’s Foundation or other charity of your choosing.