Jon Newton Hill

Jon N. Hill, age 73, of Unionville, MO, formerly of Gillette, WY, passed away peacefully at the Putnam County Care Center in Unionville on Thursday morning, May 26, 2016.

The son of Orval G. and Mary V. (Thompson) Hill, Jon Newton Hill was born July 9, 1942, in Unionville. As a boy, the family moved to Des Moines, IA, and later to Casper, WY, where Jon was graduated from Natrona County High School.

In 1962, at Casper, WY, Jon was married to Terry Lynn Frye. To this union, two children were born, O. Don Hill and Tara Gene Hill. Jon lived most of his life in the Casper/Gillette, WY, areas. However, following his marriage to Terry, they moved to Dallas, TX, where Jon worked at Varel Mfg. Co. for a number of years. The family later moved back to Casper.

Jon and Terry divorced, and he later married Helen Rickgauer. The couple lived at Gillette, WY, where Jon worked for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad as a conductor. Helen and Jon were divorced. He retired from his career after 34 years with the railroad.

Jon was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Bonnie Lee, who died in infancy; one brother, Ronnie Joe Hill, in 2011; a brother-in-law, Don Couture; also the love of his life, Carol J. Vancil.

He is survived by his son, O. Don (Odie) Hill and wife, Doreen, of Douglas, WY; his daughter, Tara Gene Ramsdell and husband, Scott, of Farmington, NM; two granddaughters, Anastacia Hill and Jackie Doze (Rein); and two great-granddaughters, Emmelijn and Anaka Doze.

Also surviving are his siblings: Joye Couture of Rapid City, SD; Gary T. Hill and wife, Jackie, of Shoshoni, WY; O. Gene Hill and wife, Sherrill, of Falcon, CO; Nancy Mikels and husband, Dale, and Cindy Minear and husband, Walt, all of Unionville. Jon is also survived by a sister-in-law, Pat Hill, of Firestone, CO, and by many nieces and nephews.

Jon’s daughter had been living in Bakersfield, CA, and Jon lived there for about a year when he suffered a second stroke in 2015. His sisters, Nancy and Cindy, brought him back to Unionville and the Putnam County Care Center in October, 2015.

Jon lived life to the fullest. He loved telling tall tales, teasing, and flashy cars. He enjoyed hunting, panning for gold, collecting antique guns, also antique cast iron banks. He liked Louis L’Amour books, also True Grit. His family could always count on him to be there in a time of need.

Jon chose to be cremated, and a memorial service with immediate family will be held at a later date at Pherigo Cemetery Memorials are suggested to the Putnam County Care Center, Hospice of Northeast Missouri, or Pherigo Cemetery and may be entrusted to Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th Street, Unionville, MO 63565.