Viola Grace (Syring) Hill Hoover of Whitefish "was escorted home to be with Jesus" on April 19, 2014. "She is now being welcomed after a courageous battle with cancer by our loved ones that took the journey before her."
She was born to Walter and Evelyn Syring in Sydney, and was raised with her brothers in the winds of eastern Montana. Vi attended SKARR grade school for first grade, Bennie Pier School, second through fourth, Sydney Elementary, fifth through eighth, and graduated from Sydney High School in 1950.
She married George Hill on Oct. 24, 1953, in Billings and was married for 27 years before George's passing in February 1980. They were blessed with four children, Lin, Bruce, Jan and Steve. The family enjoyed camping and fishing throughout Montana with family and friends but their favorite spots were Lake Inez and the Blackfoot River. Vi was the matriarch of the family and taught her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the importance of family, traditions and love. She answered to many names, Vi, Gracie, Mom, Grandma, Muggers and "The Edge." No matter the name, she loved her family with all her heart, a big smile and lots of hugs and moochies!
Vi's second marriage was to James Hoover on April 27, 1981. They spent the last 33 years together making many memories with family and friends. Some of the annual traditions included family Christmas, camping at Lake Mary Ronan and barbecues with her famous potato salad. Vi and Jim enjoyed their many friends throughout the state hunting, fishing, rock hounding or just visiting over a cup of coffee.
Vi also was a very hard worker and paid great attention to detail. Her first job was with the State of Montana Department of Health and Welfare in Helena where she made $1.10 an hour. She moved to Billings and worked for a coffee shop and Grinnel Plumbing House. She moved to Missoula with her husband George in 1954, and worked for the UFCW and Central School as a secretary until her retirement in 1989. She and Jim moved to the Flathead Valley where she worked for Walmart and Flathead Water District No. 8 until her illness in 2012.
Gracie also enjoyed league bowling, was a member of the "Union Club" in Missoula with her friends Maxi, Betty and Bonnie, the Moose Club in Whitefish, Rock Clubs, Time Scale Adventures and the Red Hat Society. Mom loved cross-stitching, collecting antiques, yard sales, auctions, dancing and music, especially Glenn Miller and Glen Campbell. But what she loved most was family time at home during the holidays and at the lake, even though she was afraid of the water. Our family is truly blessed to be related to such an amazing example of strength, love, humor and grace! Her bond with family and friends will always be strong in our hearts and memories!
Vi is survived by her husband, James Hoover of Whitefish; daughters, Lin Patton of Texas, and Jan and Ray Hitchcock of Arlee; son, Steve and Lisa Hill of Whitefish; brother, Howard and Carol Syring of Miles City; and grandchildren, Jeremy and Kelly Clark, Jason and Irma Clark, Tiffany and Hakon Roose, Chad Hill, John and Heather Jones, Josh and Dee Hitchcock, Jeff and Lisa Hitchcock, William Hitchcock, De Rae and Joe Matuzak, Zachary Hill, Leo and Chris Hoover, and Colleen and Tom Kirn. She is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren!
Vi was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Larry, Harvey and Doyle; husband, George Hill; son, Bruce Hill; and granddaughters, Jessica Hill and Samantha Kirn.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 25 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be donated to Brendan House in Kalispell or Flathead Valley Hospice Care. Thank you! To send condolences to the family go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Viola Hoover, please visit our flower store.
She was born to Walter and Evelyn Syring in Sydney, and was raised with her brothers in the winds of eastern Montana. Vi attended SKARR grade school for first grade, Bennie Pier School, second through fourth, Sydney Elementary, fifth through eighth, and graduated from Sydney High School in 1950.
She married George Hill on Oct. 24, 1953, in Billings and was married for 27 years before George's passing in February 1980. They were blessed with four children, Lin, Bruce, Jan and Steve. The family enjoyed camping and fishing throughout Montana with family and friends but their favorite spots were Lake Inez and the Blackfoot River. Vi was the matriarch of the family and taught her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the importance of family, traditions and love. She answered to many names, Vi, Gracie, Mom, Grandma, Muggers and "The Edge." No matter the name, she loved her family with all her heart, a big smile and lots of hugs and moochies!
Vi's second marriage was to James Hoover on April 27, 1981. They spent the last 33 years together making many memories with family and friends. Some of the annual traditions included family Christmas, camping at Lake Mary Ronan and barbecues with her famous potato salad. Vi and Jim enjoyed their many friends throughout the state hunting, fishing, rock hounding or just visiting over a cup of coffee.
Vi also was a very hard worker and paid great attention to detail. Her first job was with the State of Montana Department of Health and Welfare in Helena where she made $1.10 an hour. She moved to Billings and worked for a coffee shop and Grinnel Plumbing House. She moved to Missoula with her husband George in 1954, and worked for the UFCW and Central School as a secretary until her retirement in 1989. She and Jim moved to the Flathead Valley where she worked for Walmart and Flathead Water District No. 8 until her illness in 2012.
Gracie also enjoyed league bowling, was a member of the "Union Club" in Missoula with her friends Maxi, Betty and Bonnie, the Moose Club in Whitefish, Rock Clubs, Time Scale Adventures and the Red Hat Society. Mom loved cross-stitching, collecting antiques, yard sales, auctions, dancing and music, especially Glenn Miller and Glen Campbell. But what she loved most was family time at home during the holidays and at the lake, even though she was afraid of the water. Our family is truly blessed to be related to such an amazing example of strength, love, humor and grace! Her bond with family and friends will always be strong in our hearts and memories!
Vi is survived by her husband, James Hoover of Whitefish; daughters, Lin Patton of Texas, and Jan and Ray Hitchcock of Arlee; son, Steve and Lisa Hill of Whitefish; brother, Howard and Carol Syring of Miles City; and grandchildren, Jeremy and Kelly Clark, Jason and Irma Clark, Tiffany and Hakon Roose, Chad Hill, John and Heather Jones, Josh and Dee Hitchcock, Jeff and Lisa Hitchcock, William Hitchcock, De Rae and Joe Matuzak, Zachary Hill, Leo and Chris Hoover, and Colleen and Tom Kirn. She is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren!
Vi was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Larry, Harvey and Doyle; husband, George Hill; son, Bruce Hill; and granddaughters, Jessica Hill and Samantha Kirn.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 25 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be donated to Brendan House in Kalispell or Flathead Valley Hospice Care. Thank you! To send condolences to the family go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.