Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Dena Arlene Hill

Dena Arlene Hill, 89, passed away at Washakie Medical Center on February 24, 2020.

Arlene was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma on November 26, 1930 to Tracy Elbert Peck and Dena Leona (Smith) Peck.

She married Johnny Ray Hill on April 18, 1949. Arlene willingly followed Johnny to many places as he worked in the oil fields, from the western states to Missouri and even Indonesia. She had always dreamed of traveling to foreign lands and thus to help that dream along, she named her children with names from the countries she wanted to visit, Sue Lynn (Asia); Jon Kreg (Germany) and Vanessa (pronounced Vaneessa) Renee (France).

Arlene was a very active member of the United Methodist Church. Wherever the family moved, the first thing Arlene and Johnny did was to find a church. Music was such a large part of her life, she would immediately serve as pianist, vocalist, sang in the Praise Choir and played in the bell choir if the church had one. She would also play for school pageants in the area. When her youngest son became ill, the couple moved closer so they could help care for him until his passing. A few years after her husband passed in 2010, Arlene decided to return to Worland. She dearly loved being able to see the mountains, but not live in them.

She was involved in theatre, Sweet Adelines (a womens accapella group), a past member of the Worland Garden Club as well as a very active member of the United Methodist Women's Group.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Johnny; infant son, Jon Tracy; son, Jon Kreg Hill, and brothers, Gaillard (Lois), Wayne (B.J.), Jerry (Marge), and Eldon Peck

Survivors include her daughters, Sue (Wally) Fretland of Towner, North Dakota and Vanessa (Al) Harris of Ten Sleep; her daughter-in-law, Vicki Sullivan of Poteau, Oklahoma; 5 grandchildren Joy (Owen) Sparks, Brady (Paula Maria) Fretland, Amber Harris, Jason (Heather) Harris, and David Hill; and great-grandchildren Kiya, Trey, Jennifer, Shaelee, Colin, Sophia, Owen, Ron, Jenny and Tom. She is also survived by a "son of the heart", Dr. Mike Callery.

Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the United Methodist Church, 1301 Big Horn Ave, Worland, Wyoming. Memorial donations may be made to the Worland Senior Center and sent to PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.