Betty Jean Hill died on May 23, 2019 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. She was born on May 2, 1925 and adopted into the loving family of Walter and Margaret Eichendorf in MacGregor, Iowa. She graduated from Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota with an Associates degree in 1945. Betty married Dr. Ed Vander Wall (veterinarian) in 1945, and moved to Traverse City in 1946. She had six children; Mark Vander Wall (deceased), Margaret (Michael Ward) Vander Wall of Costa Mesa, CA, Stephen (Kathie Johns) Vander Wall of Gardnerville, NV, Barbara (Rick) Daigh of Traverse City, Sally (Alan Wrenn) Vander Wall of Glen Arbor, MI, and Susan (John Almonte) of Tucson, AZ. She had five grandchildren; Noah (Francesca Farolan) Vander Wall of Redondo Beach, CA, Aubrey (Brian Arnold) Vander Wall of Kewadin, MI, Erin Vander Wall of Alexandria, VA, Eric Daigh and Austin Daigh of Traverse City and three great-grandchildren Seneca Vander Wall, Layla Arnold and Harper Daigh. In 1974, Betty married Douglas Hill and the couple built their final home on Randolph Street in Traverse City. Doug had two children Ken Hill of Kansas City, MO and Linda Bunning of Newville, PA. Other members of her extended family include John and Susie Vander Wall of Spring Lake, MI and Doug and Lisa Harrison of Reno, NV.
Betty had a wonderful life. She was a long-time member of the Friendly Garden Club and a fabulous cook. She loved to play cards and was a voracious reader. She was a world traveler visiting over fifty countries and seven continents. When not tending her flower gardens, she was off riding elephants in Nepal, climbing the pyramids in Egypt, drifting across the Serengeti in a hot-air balloon, base-jumping in Switzerland, watching penguins in Antarctica, strolling the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, or climbing the Andes to visit Machu Picchu. She died at 94 surrounded by her family.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial donation to the Fr. Fred Foundation, 826 Hastings St, Traverse City, MI 49686.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Betty's family at her tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .
The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.