Zilpha B. Hill

Zilpha Barker Hill Bird, returned to her heavenly home at the age of 93 on February 21, 2017 in Pocatello, Idaho.
“Zippy” was born December 11, 1923 in Newton, Utah to Jesse Benson Barker and Archa Beatrice Cannon Barker. She was the youngest of their 5 children.
She had many fond memories of growing up on the farm in Newton in a loving family. She learned at a very early age to work hard. As soon as she could hold a hoe she was thinning, hoeing and topping sugar beets, raking hay and milking cows alongside her father and brothers. She graduated from North Cache High School.
She married Benjamin Franklin Hill March 29, 1946 in Ogden, UT. She says her greatest accomplishment was raising her six children. Ben worked in construction away from home for long periods of time and the family moved several times between Utah, Idaho, Colorado, and Washington before settling in Blackfoot, Idaho in 1963 where they bought a farm in the Rose area. They were sealed as a family on her birthday in 1964 in the Idaho Falls temple.
She was a very independent and resourceful. She had many close life-long friends. All that knew her loved her. Her friends were so close that they were like family. Her children were disappointed when they found out that aunt Wanda really wasn’t related! She worked as a cook at the school cafeteria in Firth for 18 years and said it was a great job with wonderful memories and friends.
She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and lived her testimony by her example. She served faithfully as Primary President, Relief Society President, Librarian, Primary teacher, Sunday School teacher and Visiting Teacher. She was a member of the Daughter of Utah Pioneers.
When Ben passed away in 1985 she moved from the farm in Rose to their home in Blackfoot. She was very involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren, making memories and enjoying family traditions that will always be treasured.
She married Ronald Bird on February 29, 1992 in Pocatello, ID where they lived together for 22 years. They enjoyed dancing, attending the temple, visiting family and spending time together. They were great companions and took good care of
each other. Ronald’s health declined in 2014 and his family moved him to St. George to care for him. When they were separated Zilpha went to live with her oldest daughter, Joyce, in Moore, Idaho.
Zilpha will always be remembered for her CHEERFUL attitude, hard work, generosity, kindness, faithfulness, and loving example. She had a contagious laugh that lit up the room. She had many talents – cooking, canning, gardening, sewing, crotchet, quilting just to name a few. She was a true homemaker who always made others feel welcome and loved in her home. A few of her favorites are Chinese food, Lawrence Welk, and playing cards. She loved her family with all her heart and soul.
She is survived by six children, Weldon (Marjory) Hill of Pocatello, ID; Cannon (Susan) Hill of Richland, WA; Dennis (Shelly) Hill of Claresholm, AB Canada; Joyce (Terry) Monson of Moore, ID; Jessie Lou (Rocky) Messick of Blackfoot, ID; Anna (John) Little of Idaho Falls, ID, 20 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchildren.
Zilpha is now reunited with her parents, her brothers Theron, Quentin, and Keith, her sister Bea and her husband, Ben.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 11 am in the Cornelison Funeral Home, 431 N. 15th Ave., Pocatello, where family will receive friends from 6-7 pm Monday evening and one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Grove City Cemetery, Blackfoot. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.cornelisonfh.com
208-232-0542

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