ISU Mourns the Loss of Linda Hill

Linda Carol Hill, an ISU retiree and longtime ISU supporter, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, January 23, at the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello. 

Linda was born on October 17, 1946 in Shidler, Oklahoma (population 750), the daughter of George Francis Hill and Lois Ethyl Hill (nee Wynn), in the doctor's office above the town drug store. Her father worked in petroleum production and she lived the first five years of her life in the Big Bertha oil camp near Shidler before moving with her family to Oklahoma City in 1952. She graduated from Northwest Classen High School there in 1964. She was active in clubs and developed a recognized talent for drawing and design.

She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1968 with a BA degree in English, and earned her Master of Education degree with an emphasis in student personnel, sociology and psychology from Colorado State University in 1970. After receiving her MA she spent a year in Japan on a Rotary Club Scholarship, studying the Japanese language and culture. 

On returning to the U.S., Linda taught English at a Tulsa, Okla., high school for one year. Then, in 1971, at age 25, she was Dean of Women at Joplin, Mo., Community College, for two years, helping guide its growth into Missouri Southern State College. She became assistant director of residential life at Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Tahlequah in 1973, serving there until moving to Idaho State University as dean of women in 1977.

Linda served in numerous influential positions in the offices of Student Affairs, Enrollment Planning and Graduate Studies in her 34 years at ISU, from 1977 until her retirement in 2010. She was dean of women, associate dean of students for women and student development, associate dean of students for scholarships and special projects, director of admissions counseling, admissions specialist in graduate studies, and admissions specialist/advisor for enrollment planning. 

She belonged to numerous professional organizations, including P.E.O., Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and ISU Women's Club. She advised HALO (Hispanic Awareness Leadership Organization) and many foreign students. And she received numerous awards, plaques and other memorabilia for her volunteer work within the ISU community.

As important as her work at ISU was, she considered her most important job to be Mom. In 1986, she adopted the first of two children from Peru, Carolina Letitia Hill. Carolina died in 1988 from complications of the liver disease with which she had been born. At first, Linda's insurance carrier would not cover the very great expenses caused by Carolina's illness. Pocatello rallied behind Linda and held fund-raisers to help her defray those expenses. When the insurance company relented and paid, Linda donated the remainder of the community-raised money to ISU's Early Learning Center. 

With encouragement from her fiancee, Glenn Alford, she returned to Peru in 1990 to adopt her second daughter, Rosa Alicia Hill-Alford, now 29, who graduated from Century High School, Pocatello, and the University of Montana and lives in Missoula.

In retirement, Linda had the time to develop many interests and hobbies. She was a life-long reader. She developed a talent for quilting. Earlier she enjoyed working with stained glass. And of course she beat a path to Missoula to visit Rosa. 

Those who have known Linda will not forget her clear sense of hard work and responsibility and have long enjoyed her generous spirit, her great laugh, her dry wit, her love of literature, her beautiful quilts, and her love of family and friends and animals. She is remembered in the community for her dedication to advocacy for students--especially women, minority and foreign students. All who have known her will miss her very much.

Linda is survived by her daughter, Rosa Hill-Alford, Missoula, Mont.; her former husband and close friend, Glenn Alford, Pocatello; sister, Ann Roark (Randy), St. Augustine, Fla.; brother, Rick Hill (Nancy DeVore), Boulder, Colo.; nieces Rachel Hill, Portland, Ore.; and Alice Hill (Christian Martin), New Zealand; nephews Nathan Roark, Boone, N.C.; Timothy Benton Roark (Kathleen Allan), Vancouver, B.C. Canada; and Norman Silverman (Erica), Charleston, S.C.; great nieces Cora Roark, Bozeman, Mont., and Madeline Roark, Boone, N.C.; and great nephews Holden and Skylar Silverman, Charleston, S.C. Linda is predeceased by her daughter, Carolina Letitia Hill (1988) and her parents George Hill (2005) and Lois Wynn Hill ( 2011).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to any of three Pocatello animal rescue organizations: Bannock Humane Society, Pocatello Animal Shelter or Crazy Lady Rescue; or ISU's Early Learning Center fund. 

Funeral arrangements are by the Cornelison Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church.