Benjamin Franklin Hill, Jr.

Benjamin Franklin Hill Jr., 77, a resident of The Dalles who grew up in Telocaset, died at a local care center March 8.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. March 18 at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home with burial at IOOF Three Mile Cemetery.

Benjamin was born in La Grande June 21, 1930, the youngest of five children to Benjamin Franklin Hill Sr. and Marion Josephine (Barnes) Hill. He was raised in Telocaset and graduated from Hill Military Academy in Portland in 1948. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 to 1973. He attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in March 1955 at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. He retired at the rank of major.

He piloted strategic bombers and tanker planes for much of his career. In 1968 he served in Vietnam where he flew observation aircraft before being seriously wounded in combat. He was later awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal among many other military decorations.

He loved fishing, family and the Air Force and served his country with pride and honor.

He is survived by a daughter, Taressa Durham of Boise; five sons, Michael Hill of Fremont, Calif., Richard Hill and his wife, Dana of Pendleton; Benjamin F. Hill III an his wife, Lisa of Tri-Cities; David Hill and his wife Carol of Lake Mills, Wis., and Daniel Hill and his wife Shelly of Hillsboro; two sisters, Josephine Clausen of Portland and Patricia Greene of The Dalles; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Cheryl Hill; infant sister, Barbara Hill, and his sister, Virginia Klindt.

He also leaves behind many close friends who are residents and staff at the Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Oregon Veterans Home, 700 Veteran's Drive, The Dalles 97058.