William R. Hill

A Funeral Service for William Hill of Rocky Point will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 10:00AM at First Lutheran Church in Salol, MN. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 from 5-7PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, MN with a prayer service at 7:00PM. Interment will be held at Spruce Cemetery in Roseau, MN.

William Hill passed away on Friday, August 14, 2015 at the VA Hospital in Fargo, ND at the age of 75.

William Robert Hill Jr. was born on December 25, 1939 to William Hill Sr. and Jesse (Rock) Hackler in Birmingham, AL. He was raised in California where he attended school and graduated from Sweetwater High School. He attended Palomar College where he was an All American in football. After college William worked a sport boat for H&M Landing; out of Point Loma, CA were he would attain 3 records for ocean fishing.

William then entered the military serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was the only survivor when his C130 Gunship was shot down. After the war he moved many different places while in the air force including California, Hawaii, North Dakota and Nebraska. On July 28, 1963 William married Joan Olson after meeting her only seven months prior. William attended school in Bemidji before graduating with a Masters of Education from St. Cloud State University in 1976. William was a principal at the Red Lake Indian Reservation where he was also the head football coach and coached many other sports. William and Joan owned a cabin on Lake of the Woods at Rocky Point for 43 years where he guided in the summers. He was a legend at the lake known to many as the “King of the Lake”.   He was also a Master Angler in Canada. William enjoyed gardening, particularly his tomato plants. He also enjoyed watching football and basketball, dogs, and his coke. William was a lifetime member of the American Legion and a Charter member of the Bemidji Eagles.

William is survived by his children, Tim Hill of Rocky Point, Janell (Ray) Estes of Warroad, Laurie Hill of Rocky Point; grandchildren, Hannah Hill, Levi Hill, Erin Estes, Billy Estes; siblings, Jackie, Larry, Peggy, Mickie, Don as well as others.

He is preceded in death by wife, Joan Hill; infant son; son, William Ryan; and his parents.

 Service Information