Lila Hight

Lila Jean Hight of Dillon, Montana, passed away on December 25, 2017 of a long heart illness. She was born January 29th, 1932 in Fruita, Colorado, to William T. Pixley and Frances Nadine Eberline. When she was 3 months old her family moved to Beaverhead County, living in the mining districts of Bannock, Bonaccord, Watson Creek, as well as, Elkhorn Hot Springs and Dillon. Lila Jean attended school in Bannock, Bonaccord and Dillon, graduating from Beaverhead County High School in 1950. In January 1951, Lila Jean joined the Women Army Corp (WAC), being the first woman from Beaverhead County to join the military after World War 2. She attended her Basic Training at Fort Lee, Virginia; receiving her medical training at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She was then stationed at Murphy Army Hospital, Waltham, Massachusetts. She also served at the 320 General Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. During her military service she received the Occupation of Germany, National Defense and Good Conduct Medals. She was honorably discharged, December 1953 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. She was always very proud to have served her country. On April 4, 1954 she married Lowell V. Hight and had 5 children, through the years lived in Montana, California, Wyoming, and Idaho. Wanting to continue her medical career, in 1977 she attended and graduated from the Butte Vo-Tech nursing program. She worked at the Silver Bow County Nursing Home, Park View Acres in Dillon and Orofino Idaho Nursing Home. Lila Jean is a long time member of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Dillon; Charter and life member of the Dan Brockman Legion Post #31 of Twin Bridges; Life member of Woodman of the World; past Grand Noble of the Rebecca Lodge in Melrose; Past executive board member of the Beaverhead Alliance for Senior Citizens; she was instrumental in starting the Boy and Girl Scouts in Twin Bridges and Melrose. Proceeded in death by her husband, her mother and father, step father Ross Harkness, Daughter Mildred Jean Hughes (Scott), son Lowell William Hight (Susi), Grandson Christopher Karl Hight. Survived by her children, Frank Hight, Mendoza, Argentina, Fred Hight (Vickie) of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Deanne Holt (Dave) of Buckeye, Arizona, daughter-in-law Susi Hight, Stuttgart, Germany; Sisters Dorothy Gaines and Billie Bracket of Great Falls; 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place.