Ruth Raelene Hill

Ruth Raelene Ball Hill died unexpectedly on November 8th, 2015, from complications of a medical procedure, while serving with her husband, President Norman Child Hill, in the Ghana Accra West Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Raelene was born on April 4, 1951 to Faye Longhurst and Neal Ball in Ogden, Utah. She was the oldest of 2 children. She and Norman were High School sweethearts, having met the summer before senior year on a church history tour to the east coast. She waited for him while he served an LDS mission. They married in the Ogden LDS Temple, which she had helped raise money to build, on January 24, 1974.

The Ogden High School graduation speaker of 1969, Raelene went on to attend Weber State and BYU, where she studied Home Economics and education. She taught at Tintic High School in Eureka, Utah, and was the drill team director and instructor. She was the president of her own company, Rainbow Custom Creations, a drill team and costume design company, and with her earnings purchased her prized yellow Mustang convertible in 2002. Raelene received honors such as the National President of American Mothers, Incorporated, the Young Mother of the Year in Louisiana in the 1980’s, the Mother of the Year in Texas in the 1990’s, and was the co-chairman of the Jeans and Jewels Gala, Northwest Assistance Ministries Houston Annual Fundraising Drive.

Her primary focus, however, was on raising her four children and instilling strong love and companionship in the family (her first child died shortly after birth). She dedicated her life to her children and their interests, and to serving in the LDS church. She spent time as a stake public affairs committee member, ward Relief Society president, Cub Scout leader, and ward and stake Young Women president, before her final calling serving with her husband in Africa. Her missionaries remember her saying that “we can do hard things,” and inspired them to serve. Raelene exuded love and kindness, was always ready to jump in and help, and seeked to find Joy in the Journey.

Raelene is survived by her husband, Norman Hill of Clinton, Utah; their four children: Ryan Hill (Alayna) of Spring, Texas, Kristen Joy Hill Duke (Michael) of Round Rock, Texas, Russell Hill (Kimberly) of Church Hill, Tennessee, and Kirk Hill (Rachel) of St. Louis, Missouri; twelve grandchildren with two more on the way; her parents, Faye Longhurst and Neal Ball of Riverdale, Utah; her sister, Cheryl Ball Burt (Bruce) of Sandy, Utah.  Her daughter Ruth Rebecca met her in heaven. She also mothered over 200 missionaries while serving her mission in Ghana. We are grateful for the plan of salvation and our knowledge that families are forever, and for Raelene’s legacy of faith, love, and joy.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the General Missionary Fund of the church, or to www.ghanamakeadifference.org, a beloved children’s home in Ghana.

The Utah funeral service will be on Saturday, November 21st at the LDS Chapel on 4000 S. Parker Drive, Riverdale, Utah 84405: viewing from 11-12:30, service at 1 pm. Interment will be in the Lindquist Washington Heights Memorial Park.

A Texas memorial will be held at 11 am on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at the LDS Chapel at 16535 Kleinwood Drive, Spring, Texas 77379.