Helen Hillbery

Helen M. Hillbery passed away at The Ponderosa Assisted Living Center in Yakima on Saturday, December 3, 2016. Born January 14, 1922 in St. Paul, MN to Edward and Helen (Hamernik) Hatfield. She spent those early years during the Great Depression with brother, Edward and sister, Evelyn. Helen moved in with her aunt and uncle, Edna and Frank (Hamernik) during her high school years and graduated from Harding High School, St. Paul, MN on June 14, 1940. Upon graduation, Helen worked at a local sausage factory prior to her military enlistment with the Women's Army Corp in September 1943. Basic training sent her to Rapid City, South Dakota. From there she was sent to the Asiatic Pacific (New Guinea) and during that time she met General Douglas McArthur. She attained the rank of Sgt. and was honorably discharged November 1945. After her discharge, Helen traveled to Yakima and lived with her Godmother where she began employment as a telephone switchboard operator with Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. Helen married the love of her life, Donald Hillbery on June 19, 1948 in Yakima. They spent many happy years together residing in Wapato in a home that Don built while raising their two daughters. They enjoyed camping at the Pacific beaches, area lakes, and trips to Yellowstone Park and Disneyland. Upon Don's early death in 1969, Helen went to work at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital in the housekeeping dept. for 8 years. Helen was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Wapato. Helen is survived by daughters Linda (Bob) Russell of Richland, WA and Janet (Bill) Silvers, of Post Falls, ID, four grandchildren: Garrick Russell, Carrie Almquist of Richland, WA and Trisha (Jason) Shoemaker, Spokane Valley, WA and Matthew (Kari) Silvers, Cheney, WA. She also has ten great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home with internment at Zillah Cemetery. A private family graveside celebration will be held. Special thanks to the staff at The Ponderosa Assisted Living Center in Yakima and Heartlinks Hospice for their compassionate care. Helen's wish, in lieu of cards and flowers, please do a random act of kindness for a stranger that may need a helping hand. We'll miss you Mom, but know your journey is now complete. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen Hillbery, please visit our flower store.