Oretta Geneva Hill

Oretta G. Hill, 84, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, July 20, 2013, at her home in rural Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 24th, at 11:00 AM at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA, with Pastor Stacey Nalean-Carlson officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing. Friends may call from 9:00 AM until time of services at the church on Wednesday. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.

Oretta Geneva Hill was born on April 21, 1929, in Waterville, IA, the daughter of Odin and Gessina (Toso) Ellefson. She attended school in Lansing, IA, Oretta was baptized at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing, IA. On March 28, 1949, she married Melvin Hill in Waukon. They farmed together in Makee Township in rural Waukon, where they milked cows, raised pigs, chickens, crops and bailed hay. Oretta loved working on the farm. She enjoyed playing cards especially euchre and canasta, watching game shows, canning corn, baking and freezing apple pies to share with family and friends, and working puzzle books. She also enjoyed spending time with her family especially the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends.

Survivors include her children Virginia (Lyle) Hanson of Decorah, IA, Veronica (David) Olson of Waukon, Vickie Kriener of Waukon (Steve Kriener of Waterloo, IA) Wayne (Anna) Hill of Postville, IA and Wesley Hill of Waukon; 15 grandchildren Kevin (Liz) Hanson, Jason (Angie) Hanson, Aaron (April) Hanson, Steve Hill, Janet Olson, Mandy (Steve) Hammel, Kami, Kelsey and Joseph Kriener, Rene Girasek, Dominika Giraskova Hill, Maria Giraskova, Michael Hill, Glen (Holly) Palmer and Jeff Haas; 13 great-grandchildren Shelby, Connor, Ryan, Kellen, Calvin, Jack, Sawyer and Brooklyn Hanson, Rylee and Marquis Olson, Cloee, Madison and Trey Hammel; 3 sisters-in-law Marilyn Ellefson of Waukon, Grace Bechtel of Lansing and Mary (Don) Moritz of Maquoketa, IA; 2 brothers-in-law Eddie Hill of Cedar Rapids and Sam (Charlotte) Hill of Harpers Ferry, IA. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Melvin who died May 28, 1997; 2 sisters Junice Bolsinger and Beverly Ellefson; 3 brothers Arden, Orlean and James Ellefson; 3 brothers-in-law Johnney (Florence) Hill, Walter Hill and Floyd (Betty) Hill and 3 sisters-in-law Betty (Dennis) Ronan, Agnes (John) Seitz and Carolyn Hill.


Honorary casketbearers are Oretta's grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are Steve and Michael Hill, Kevin, Jason and Aaron Hanson, Joseph Kriener, Steve and Trey Hammel and Jeff Haas.