Viona "Vi" M Hilgert

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Viona "Vi" M. Hilgert

Viona "Vi" M. Hilgert died Sunday, April 1, 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 80.

Mom was born August 26, 1931 in Boise, Idaho on her mother''s birthday. She was the only child of Wanda Weaver and Myron A. Child and was raised in Ogden, Utah. During her senior year of high school Mom met Thomas C. Hilgert on a double date. She was on that date with someone else, as was he, but risking all he phoned her the next day to ask her for a date and they were were married in July of 1949, shortly after Mom''s graduation from Ogden High School. They lived briefly in Evanston, Wyoming but those were lean years and jobs were scarce. Dad enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and it would become his career. During their shared military years they were stationed in Merced, California; St. John''s, Newfoundland; and Colorado Springs, Colorado; with several assignments at Hill Air Force Base in-between. Still, Mom always thought of Ogden as her true hometown and was always anxious to go home. When Dad retired from the Air Force at age 40 they bought a truck and camper and took a trip to Mexico. It would become a way of life and many happy years were spent traveling in some form of a camping trailer, riding their dirt bikes and playing golf. Mom''s co-workers could scarcely believe that she wore a motorcycle helmet, as they could not imagine her willingness to muss her usually perfectly-coifed hair. In the years before Dad''s passing they spent several winters in Beaver Dam, Arizona, where they formed many new friendships. Vi cherished her role as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She also loved her pets, including her cat, Bob, who preceded her in death and her cat, Candy, who stood watch over her until the very moment of her passing.

Vi is survived by her daughter, Sherrie (David E.) Gee; five bonus grandchildren, Shaleane Gee (Jim Cody), Jennifer Gee, Joseph Gee (Stacy Vroman), Ryan Gee, and Tyler Gee; and great-granddaughters, Darian Reich and Lucia Blue Gee; and dear friend of many years, Raelene (Rick) Kendrick. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; daughter, Peggy Hilgert Carroll and grandson, Jaim Carroll.

We are so grateful for the loving care provided to Mom by Sunrise at Holladay caregivers over the past few years, and also to the devoted hospice staff from Haven Health Care during the final few weeks of her life.

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Lindquist''s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Boulevard, Ogden. Friends may also visit family on Wednesday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Boulevard, Ogden.

"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."