Betty Ann Hill

Christmas was a magical time for Betty, insisting Santa visit every year for the past 65 years to accommodate each of her children, her grandchildren and then her great grandchildren as well. There were years when even she was surprised by who was wearing the “suit” but the “suit” always made an appearance! While the “Spirit of Christmas” was a wonderful time for Betty, she kept that feeling alive throughout the whole year. Her community service and charity work were some of her best legacies.

Betty's youth was spent growing up on the west side of Evansville. Her days at Reitz High School were documented as a perfect student, except that one day she skipped school and lost her “Blue and Gray” rating! We don't know why she skipped. Really! While in school, she was well loved and made life-long friends with several students at the rivalry school, Mater Dei; her friendships there have continued to the next generation. During high school and after graduation, Betty spent time slinging sodas and burgers at The Sailor drive-in, modeled swimsuits for Pfafflin’s Lake and volunteered her time for the variety show at Camp Breckinridge entertaining the troops. She eventually joined The Kokie Family Catering business which were the most endearing years spent in her youth with her 'adopted family' until she started a family of her own.

Once she met and married Jesse Hill, her family began and she became a true homemaker. She dedicated her life to her four children, teaching them the true meaning of family and how to love, live and to believe in each other. From having a home cooked dinner every evening, to helping with homework around the kitchen table, she was never too busy to help her children succeed. Every child should be so lucky.

Aside from making her children's lives so completely surrounded by love, she touched multiple others. Her charity work was constant, starting with 4-H commitments, one of her most heartfelt loves. She dedicated over twenty-five years to being a 4-H leader for the St. Wendel Clovers, sharing her talents and knowledge with young minds. She organized multiple bake sales for her club, once baking over 125 of her world famous kuchens in one day, all sold within minutes of being put out for sale. She sponsored garden plant sales and many other projects to help her 4- H club and the community of St. Wendel.

Betty was such a creative person and it showed in her many talents. Her wizardry at the sewing machine was legendary! She started sewing at an early age, creating her own clothes and then making all of her children’s clothes. From doll clothes, baby clothes, to several wedding dresses, Betty created magic! She shared her expertise with her own children and young members of 4-H and there are many grand champion ribbons to validate her talent. When she wasn’t sewing for her family, she was piecing quilts for Verlie's Quilters: a generous group of quilters who dedicate hours and hours to making quilts for children at St. Jude’s Hospital and the Shriner's Hospital for Children. Betty was able to send hundreds of quilts and afghan blankets to those children. HUNDREDS. When she wasn’t sewing, she loved cooking and gardening. She was a wonderful hostess and loved to cook for family and friends. If she wasn’t cooking she was reading about cooking; she loved reading cookbooks! Never one to miss an opportunity to learn, she loved reading everything and looked forward to the bookmobile stopping in her driveway every two weeks. So much to read, see and still do, she will just need to carry on in Heaven. God called her home right before Christmas, to celebrate with Him and her loving family already there.

Those left here to cherish her memory include her daughters, Jamie Rasure (Randy), Jodie Horstketter (Joe), Jerri Hatfield (Jeff); son, Jim Hill (Deidre) grandchildren, Jackson Davis, Jill Schmitt, Jeffrey Hatfield (Allison), James Hatfield (Abril), Flint Rasure (Hannah), Adena Raben (Sam), Tela Hill, Jade Hill, Ellison Hill; great grandchildren, Jessica, Mariah, Abigail, Hunter, Alexander, Henry “Hank,” Baylis; brother, Jack Baker (Marilen); nieces, Autumn, Sonnet Baker, and their mother Patricia Baker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse James Hill in (1987); parents, Wilbur and June Baker; 2 infant sisters, Sandra and Marilyn.

Betty supported many charities on a regular basis; some of those include the Evansville Christian Life Center, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Disabled Veterans (DAV), Father Flannigan’s Boy’s Town, Salesian Missions, and public television, WNIN and KET. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting one of the charities above, or one of your favorite charities in her memory.

The family would like to thank Deaconess Midtown doctors and nurses for taking special care of Betty. Nurse Aaron Bittner was most compassionate in her final hours and we can’t thank him enough.

A private service will be held. You may view the service via live stream on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 12:00 Noon.

Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.