Virginia Dahl

Virginia Baker Hill Dahl, 84, of Bozeman passed away on August 6, 2008. She was born on February 15, 1924, to Vinson Frederick Baker and Frances Swanson Baker in Bozeman, Montana. Virginia lived her first five years on the Baker Ranch (originally known as the Sixteen Mile Ranch and later as the C/A Ranch) in Josephine, Montana. At the age of 4 frac12;, her parents divorced and she moved to Bozeman with her mother, Frances, and her older brother, Robert. She later lived with her grandmother, Jennie Highstead Swanson, while her mother went to school in Seattle. Frances married Albert N. Haas, who was Chief of Police in Bozeman for many years, when Virginia was 11. She attended Emerson school, Irving school, Hawthorne school and graduated from Gallatin County High School in 1942. After graduation, Virginia attended Montana State University and then Western Union School in Santa Cruz, California. She was sent to Albany, Oregon, and then to Eugene, Oregon before being transferred back to the Bozeman office in 1943 to work at Western Union. Virginia met Lieutenant Richard Hill of St. Anthony, Idaho when he stopped in Bozeman to eat at Louise#8217;s Caf. He came into her office to send a night letter to his parents, and he then offered to walk her home, stopping for hot chocolate along the way. They began a daily correspondence and few months later, Richard met her at the train as she returned from a trip to Seattle. That very night, he proposed and presented her with an engagement ring, and the two were married just a month later. Five months afterwards, Richard, who was based at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls as a joint officer in the British Royal Air Force and the American Army, was sent overseas to fly a transport plane over the #8220;Hump#8221; between Burma and China, not returning until late 1947 when their first daughter, Patricia, was 2 frac12; years old. Their second daughter, Susan, was born in 1948. Once discharged, Richard used his expertise as an accountant and as a pilot to start a flying service business in Belgrade at the airstrip which later developed into the Bozeman Airport. On July 17, 1949, Richard was killed when his small plane crashed while he was doing a one man aerobatics show for a rodeo in Three Forks. Following Richard#8217;s death, Virginia was a single parent for many years, working hard to support herself and her two young daughters. She worked as a salesperson for the Sports Chalet, at the Baxter Hotel as a hostess and then as an account manager for Montana Power for over 22 years. In the late 1960#8217;s Virginia was set up on a blind date with Eldon Dahl, of the Dahl Funeral Chapel family, by her Montana Power friends. The date was a great success and they later married on August 2, 1969 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Together they enjoyed frequent entertaining, dining out and extensive traveling. They were active members of the Formal Dance Club and of the Riverside Country Club as well as the Elks and the Legion Clubs. Eldon died in 2001. Virginia will always be remembered for her impeccable appearance, her sweet smile, her sense of humor, her devotion to her friends and family and her many pets over the years. She was known for her green thumb and she was particularly proud of her beautiful African violets. She also loved to bake and delighted everyone with her pies and cakes and her very special frosted pineapple cookies. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert, her two husbands, Richard Hill and Eldon Dahl, and her step-daughter Patsy Dahl Matzinger. Survivors include her two daughters, Patricia Ann Hill of Aspen, Colorado and Susan Marie Hill of New York City; her granddaughter Sabrina Darya Sadeghi of Paris, France; her Aunt Betty McGiffin of Helena; step grandchildren Jeff, Jason and LeeAnn Matzinger; four step great grandchildren; numerous in laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. A special thank you from Virginia#8217;s family to Gary Bates, Irene Dahl, the Bozeman Deaconess Hospice staff and volunteers and the staff and caregivers at Highgate Senior Living A funeral service and celebration of Virginia#8217;s life will be held at 2PM on Monday, August 11 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 5PM. Memorial donations may be made in Virginia#8217;s name to Hospice c/o of the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Foundation, 931 Highland Blvd., Suite 3200, Bozeman, MT 59715