LaDorna “Dorny” (Jones) Hill


LaDorna "Dorny" (Jones) Hill, age 94 of Baraboo, passed away Saturday, June 1, 2019 at St. Clare Hospital. She was born above the Centerville Creamery in the town of Trempealeau, Wisconsin, near the Mississippi River on the 19th of September, 1924 to Jess and Mildred (Mills) Jones. Her father was the creamery butter maker and manager. The family moved to Watertown when she was four years of age and remained there until she was eight. Her father managed the Herberger Creamery until he became ill and moved the family to Baraboo to be near relatives. She attended Baraboo Public Schools and graduated from Baraboo Senior High School in 1943. Upon graduation she went to Dayton, Ohio and was employed at the Wright/Patterson Air Base. She returned to Madison and continued with secretarial work at the Armed Forces Institute. In 1946 she returned to Baraboo and began working for "Mike Sweeney" Sauk County Veteran's Service Officer where she remained for seven years. "Mike Sweeney" was small of stature but had a large heart, devoting himself to the returning WWII Veterans. On Feb. 13, 1947 LaDorna married William Hill, a returned WWII Veteran. In 1955 he formed his own electric company and LaDorna was always the bookkeeper. During their life together and with the help of their children they owned and operated several businesses including Skillet Creek Campground on Hwy 159 and the Dream Lodge Motel on Hwy 123, both near Devil's Lake State Park. Upon her husband's retirement in 1986 she obtained her real estate license and practiced that profession until her retirement in 2010. Her last business association was with Harry and Nancy Machtan (Harry Machtan Realty), Baraboo where she was treated as family. She was a member of St. Joseph's Church and past member of St. Clare Hospital Advisory Board, Commissioner for Baraboo Economic Development Authority, Wisconsin Realtor's Association, National Realtor's Association and Elk's Ladies Auxiliary.
William and LaDorna were blessed with five children, Scott (Kathleen) Hill, Christine (Dennis) Hill-Sampson, Holly (Steve) Haas, Darcy Schulze and William (Jody) Hill; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister-in-law, Janet Keylock as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
LaDorna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; brothers, Armin (Olga) and Lloyd (Oda); sister-in-law, Elsie Jones; granddaughter, Erin Schulze; son-in-law, James Schulze; and her sister, Clydella (Roy) Meiller.
A prayer service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Jay Poster officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. A luncheon will follow at church. Private burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to People Helping People c/o Bill Harris, St. Martha's Circle at St. Joseph Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Krszjzaniek and the staff at St. Clare Hospital and St. Clare Meadows Care Center for the wonderful care.