Johnny Leon Hill, born February 5, 1938 in Eliza, MO to James Gordon Hill and Mable Haws. John, as everyone knew him, passed away April 3, 2023, at the age of 85 after battling dementia for 7 years. He also suffered other medical issues which made his last year very difficult.
During his youth age John lived in many different places, he attended high school in Poplar Bluff, MO, graduating in 1956.
He married Collene Fornshell Miller in 1977, and they came to Forsyth where John was a superintendent on a drag line in Colstrip. They left in 1980, and went to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, putting together another dragline, then to College Station, Texas, and finally to Nephi, Utah where he was a superintendent for a concrete plant. Returning to Forsyth where John went to work for Montana Power, retiring after 19 years.
John and Collene went on a mission for their church in 1998 to Moapa, Nevada for 18 Months. Which they truly enjoyed and making so many great friends. After their completion of their mission, they were called to work in the Billings, Montana Temple, which they did for 13 ½ years.
John is survived by his wife, Collene; children, Randy (Debbie) Hill Desgranges, Darren and Tina Hill, Cynthia, and Steve Schindler, Teresa and Trent McNair, and Dwayne Hill; two stepchildren, Trudy J. Trowbridge, and Jeffrey D. and Cindy Miller; sisters, Haline Messick of Cornwell, AZ, and Myrtle and Greg Scott of Mesa, AZ; brother, Gordon and Kathy Hill of Lehi, UT; he will be missed by many grandchildren, nieces and nephews in addition to many friends children who knew him as grandpa.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Mable, and James and Mary Hill.
Service Schedule
Visitation
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Friday April 14, 2023
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Funeral Service
2:00 PM
Friday April 14, 2023
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Interment
Following the Funeral Service
Friday April 14, 2023
Forsyth Cemetery
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Service Schedule
Visitation
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Friday April 14, 2023
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Funeral Service
2:00 PM
Friday April 14, 2023
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Interment
Following the Funeral Service
Friday April 14, 2023
Forsyth Cemetery
Forsyth, Montana 59327
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George and Jan Simmons says
Collene and family,
Please know our love is with you. You and John have been as close to family as we have here in Forsyth. John was a wonderful and unique man throughout his life. He served you, his family, his Church and his community for many years; he will truly be missed. Keep your many wonderful memories in your heart always and John will be with you. He and you will be with us now and in the forever . We love you Special Lady, call anytime.
Connie Brown says
Colleen so sorry for you and your family and the void in your lives and in your hearts. I will forever remember the fun summers at Hell Creek . Thanks for the memories with John and your family.
Kay and Rocky Berdahl says
Colleen and family,
Sorry to hear of John’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Lena Falcon says
Colleen
You are in my thoughts and prayers
Debby and Charlie DeCock says
Colleen and family,
Very sorry to hear of John’s passing! You will be in our thoughts and prayers! May he rest in the Lord’s Heavenly Kingdom.
Slade says
Sorry for your loss! What a treasure! God comfort you all during this celebration of life.
John was always a joy to talk with when he hauled us around town.
Slade Bumgardner
Lynn Tompkins says
So very sorry for your loss. Exchanging waves down at the diversion dam as we all did our drive byes was always fun. A good memory to hold on to.
Kevin Donnelly says
Sorry to hear of John’s passing. And enjoyed working with John and Colleen. May God be with you and your family.
Kevin
Dawn Reiger says
Colleen and family I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. You are all in my thoughts and prayers!
Renee says
John and grandpa we always loved you above all others. You are the Most favorite person to us,God bless you and your true people Courtney and Renee!!!
Trudy Trowbridge says
Dad , I will miss our father n daughter fishing trips on the river there in town. I will always remember if I got a bigger fish u always say it jump out of ur hands when putting it into the live well on the boat lol. We always had amazing good times together fishing. I’ll be missing u always n Wishing we was fishing together again but I’ll know u will be watching me from above so that I’ll get the big ones still. .
Ginny Erwin says
I thank you and John for treating me like part of your family while I was in Forsyth. I loved the many visits, dinners, trips to the Temple and just being there when I needed to talk. You both even helped me get all my Temple classes and recommends done. John was like a father to me. I will miss him very much. He is now with our Heavenly Father and probably fishing. I hope he don’t fall off the boat while he is fishing. I love you both
Glenda McKelvey says
So sorry, Collene, for your loss. I personally know how hard its been for you battling dementia. I do believe John is in a good place now, fully functional.
Phoebe Anderson says
I always enjoyed any time spent with your family, and John had the most fun sense of humor. He will truly be missed. I always admired something about your family that l had not seen much of. You blended your kids together, creating a pretty close loving family. Seven kids, a big brother, two half sisters and two half brothers that he had not met, a step sister and a step brother, and you melded them into a family. That is love and parents who really love their kids, all of them.