Marilyn M. Johnson Hill, 89, of Latimer, passed away Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, at
the Franklin General Hospital in Hampton of C.O.P.D.
Marilyn, the oldest child of Henry and Claire Johnson of Alexander was born July
5, 1925, at her grandparent's farm north of Alexander. She attended the
Alexander Consolidated School and graduated as the valedictorian of her high
school class.
During the 1950s, she served as the secretary to the superintendent of the
Alexander School and later as the office manager at the Belmond Community
Hospital. It was giving piano lessons that she first met Darwin Hill who would
eventually become her husband.
In December 1960, she moved to Cedar Rapids to work in the newly developing
computer department at St. Luke's Hospital. Four months later her future husband
also started to work at St Luke's, joining Marilyn in the computer department.
The summer of 1973, Marilyn and Darwin both resigned from St. Luke's and decided
they would proceed through the rest of their lives as the happily married couple
they became. Darwin changed his career to become a salesman of custom printed
computer forms. In 1990, they moved back home and settled in their present home
in Latimer as Darwin began his current career in farming as well as income tax
preparation.
Marilyn was a member of the Reformed Church in Alexander, Cedar Rapids and then
again in Alexander. She taught Sunday school, catechism and was an active member
and officer of the RCW of both churches as well as the classes RCW. She was the
organist at the Alexander Reformed Church and was organist for various churches
and chapels. Upon returning to Alexander, she was the assistant organist until
her health prevented her from playing. She was a member of the Latimer Park
Society and was the secretary of lot sales for the Alexander Cemetery.
Marilyn is survived by her husband, Darwin; brother, Jim (Diane); sister, Sandra
(Bill); nephews, Lance, Ryan (Catherine), Steven, Seth (April), Michael and
Darren (Jen); nieces, Jennifer and Michelle (Pat); and numerous great-nephews
and great-nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Claire Johnson; and her
grandparents, Ben and Alvena Arends and John and Mary Johnson.