Richard "Dick" Hill

Dad’s Legacy Letter

On Monday, January 25, 1943, Richard Arthur Hill took the stage in what would be a many-act play with several intermissions, much applause, some boos, and one standing ovation—this is it.

R.A. Hill (aka Dick, Dicky-Doo, Mr. Hill, Dad) would participate in the drama of life for the next 30,086 days.

Time, what a gift.

The middle child of Bob & Lavilla Hill, Dad stepped up to home plate with intention, purpose, and vigor. He approached whatever pitch he got with either a full swing or a confident pass, holding the bat close to the chest as he watched the pitch go over home plate. Later, he would tell his kids, “You’re old enough to live with your decisions.”

Dad had a few philosophies in life, including:

• If you borrow money from a relative, pay them back first.
• Whatever you are in life, be a good one.
• Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
• Don’t go to bed angry.
• Save the honey for the honeymoon.
• Keep Jesus the center of your life.
• Don’t spend beyond your means.

Dad loved music and passed this multi-generational gift to each of his kids. After working his way through all the chairs, Dad earned the first chair trumpet of the Frazee High School Band. Upon graduation, he handed his trumpet hankey to his first-chair successor, thus becoming a decades-long tradition for graduating seniors.

On January 5, 1962, Dad began his service in the U.S. Navy on the USS Eldorado (AGC-11),

which operated in the Western Pacific (including Southeast Asia and the Philippines). The USS Eldorado served as a flagship for various forces, including the Commander, Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet, and participated in amphibious exercises during the Vietnam War. The Eldorado was also deployed to the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Dad served in the US Navy for exactly 4 years, 3 months, 17 days, 11 hours, and 48 minutes, and was honorably discharged on April 21, 1966.

Dad was intensely proud of his military service—it shaped his sense of responsibility, discipline, and integrity. Alongside that pride, he carried a quiet, enduring grief for the fellow servicemen and servicewomen who didn’t get to come home. It was a weight he bore with reverence and compassion for the rest of his life.

Following his service in the US Navy, Dad began his education and career in engineering. He married Carole Skog from Frazee, MN, and together they ventured west to San Diego, where they welcomed their daughter, Kirsten B. Hill, in 1967 and their son, Joe, in 1969. They would soon settle into life in Tucson, Arizona.

Several years later, Dad and Carole went their separate ways. Dad found himself back in Minneapolis, working at Control Data. He had a love for systems, engineering, and process. His mind was always thinking purposefully.

One day in 1974, Dad met a new colleague at the copier machine. Apparently, the brief but memorable/questionable name exchange (if you know, you know) sparked a little fire in the copier room. Pam and Dad tied the knot on October 11th, 1974. Together with Joe and Kirsten at home, they would eventually welcome Angie, Mandi, and Jenny into the fold—completing their modern, blended family. They were married for nearly fifty-one years.

Their five children would describe their 50+ year partnership as “complementary souls weathering life’s seasons.”

Dad was a hard worker ’til the end. He did things his way. He took risks and accepted the outcome. His handshake and his words were his bond. Dad gave us not only a roof over our heads but also helped us to form deep roots in our identity and place in this world. His beliefs were simple and deeply authentic to who he was on earth.

Dad fulfilled the promises he made to himself as a teen: he became an entrepreneur, starting several businesses and nonprofits with his ever-loyal honorary brothers, Keith Anderson and Denny Rutledge. Together, Mom and Dad raised five kids who would each confidently confide, “Dad has the same excellent expectations for each of us, but, you wanna know a secret? I’m his favorite.”

The devil made a few sneaky attempts to snuff out Dad’s light before his time was up—proof that there is a war for us all between good & evil, light & darkness (1 John 1:5). Through it all, Dad got back up, dusted off his Wranglers, and got back on the bull. Undefined by statistics, Dad was resilient and navigated a few hefty trip-wires along his path. Accepting each and living to overcome what he could, in his own way. Next month, Dad would have celebrated an honorable victory quietly in his heart—a decade of sobriety.

If asked, Dad would attribute any success to Jesus. You could find him bent over in prayer, petitioning for the safety and success of his family and friends. Dad did a lot of business with Jesus like that. We knew that when Dad was in the garage “smokin’ with Jesus,” that there was some serious business going on. Tough on the outside, he eventually revealed a tender vulnerability that evolved into something honorable and beautiful in his final days. See, even as the sun goes down, it puts up a glorious fight. That was Dad, as his sun set, too. His beauty shone the most as he looked unto Jesus.

Dad gave us his first, his best, and his last. He left it all on the stage—sweat dripping from his brow, breathless and exhausted.

At 5:30 on the morning of June 9th, Dad took a bow. And conviction is this: as the curtain fell, the sun rose again and Love was realized.

Dad’s legacy will live on, courtesy of his biggest fans:

Proclaimed hero and wife, Pam Hill; favorite daughter, Kirsten Hill; favorite son, Joe Hill and favorite daughter-in-law, Becky Hill; favorite daughter, Angie Wallock and favorite son-in-law, Ryan Wallock; favorite daughter, Mandi Cochran and favorite son-in-law, Dave Cochran; favorite daughter, Jenny Medellin and favorite son-in-law, Eddie Medellin.

Grandkids and greats, Erin & Anthony (Max); Josh & Abby (Anne Marie and Margot); Ellie & Gray; Anna, Ella, Jacob, Kaden, Lila, Grayson, and Mateo.

Dad’s younger. “more handsome” brother, Jerry, and wife Nani; sister-in-law Pattie & husband Ron; nieces and nephews, Mike & Meredith and family, Cameo and Zoey, Spencer & Peggy and family; Adam & Liz and family, Stephanie and family.

Extended family includes Keith & Eileen Anderson and family, Denny & Nina Rutledge and family, several cousins, and the beloved “Frazee Gang” from the class of 1961.

The granddogs left to wonder, “Where’s Grandpa?” Ruby Wallock, Etta Hill, Rebel Cochran, Walter Fantastic, Sunshine Arthur, and Rosie From Long Island.

We want to give two snaps in Z-formation to the Vivie Home Health and Hospice teams in Fergus Falls for their compassion, knowledge, integrity, and commitment to helping warriors and their families navigate a complex yet simple landscape. Bless you all. And thank you.

If only we could see what happened after the curtain fell. We imagine there was laughter, hugs, and cheers, tears of gratitude, and compliments on a “great performance.” We imagine the celebration included Dad’s parents, in-laws Gordon & Lila, and Allie & Hilma, sister Bonnie; favorite son-in-law Kenny, several aunts and uncles; friends and colleagues. The after-party wouldn’t be complete without dog hair from the usual suspects Banjo, Daisy, Babe, Andy, Charlie, Thor, Maki, Sophie, Juneau, Indy, Mia, Jack, Comet, Mitzy, K-9 “Wondermutt” Falco, and his most beloved companion, Saint Butchy.

Dad, we honor you. We are proud of and for you.

Until we see you again, “Ta-ta-toodle-loo-23-skidoo-we-love-you”.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2025, at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, with a visitation one hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Rev. Eric Uggerud

Interment: 2:00 P.M., Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Arthur Cemetery in Arthur ND, with Navy Military Honors.

Funeral arrangements entrusted with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.