Donald Hill

Our beloved dad, Donald W Hill, 88, passed away on April 24, 2019. Born in Minot, North Dakota, the youngest of 10 children to Katherine and Charles Hill. He began his education in North Dakota in a one-room schoolhouse. At 12, he moved to Yakima where he completed the 8th grade. At 14, as a self-taught musician, he began his working career playing live guitar on a KIT weekly radio show. He met and married Ruth Mooneyham in Lewiston, Idaho, where they met after he finished working a local barn dance. Shortly after that, he was drafted into the Army which sent him to Germany for two years. Their first child, Forrest, was born after he left for that post. As a traveling musician, he played throughout the western US. Their second child, Cindy was born in The Dalles where he had his first long-term job. In 1958, the family moved to Pendleton which became his center of operations for the next 17 years. It was in Pendleton that their third child, Jennifer, was born. It was during his tenure in Pendleton that he learned the art of piano tuning. In 1976, he made his final move to Yakima. He enjoyed 13 years of entertaining the patrons of The Chalet. After The Chalet closed, he started playing for the members of the American Legion Post 36 for the next 12 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Ruth. He leaves behind a legacy of three children. His 8 grand children, Benjamin, Andrew, Tucker, Jonathan, Tyler, Marcus, Jeremy, and Nichole and 14 great grandchildren. Services will be at Valley Hills Funeral Home on Sunday, May 5 at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow at the American Legion Hall. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Hill, please visit our flower store.