Obituary of Orpal Lois Hillary
A memorial service for Orpal Hillary, age 101, will be held Friday, June 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home prior to the service. A private burial will be held at Spirit Lake Memorial Gardens.
Born to Leo and Dora (Sheldon) Whaley on June 1, 1916, in Montgomery, Iowa, Orpal Lois Hillary began her full and amazing life that would last 101 years. Growing up on the farm, she was kept busy with her siblings and attended country school in Montgomery before graduating from Spirit Lake High School in 1933.
On November 16, 1934, she married Raymond Allen Hillary and shortly thereafter, daughters Patricia and Susan completed the family. Most of her years were spent in Spirit Lake, Iowa and Mesa, Arizona, visiting with family and enjoying the best of life. Orpal was a kind, sweet, funny woman who once missed her own birthday party to watch a Cubs baseball game. Thank goodness she was able to see them win the World Series; now she had seen everything.
With a loving family, Orpal was predeceased by husband, Raymond Hillary; daughter, Susan Hillary; granddaughter, Kelli Sue Kannenberg; siblings, Howard Whaley, Gerald (Doc) Whaley and Genevieve Dodt; and son-in-law, Kenneth Kannenberg. She is survived by daughter, Patricia Kannenberg of Spirit Lake, IA; grandchildren, Kristi and Frank Sauter of Mt. Juliet, TN, Kyle and Mary Kannenberg of Spirit Lake, IA and Kenda and Jim Templeton of Linden, CA; great-grandchildren, Jessica and Ken Barnett of Antioch, TN, Brandon Sauter of Fraser, CO and Kelsey Kannenberg of Spirit Lake; great-great-granddaughter, Kaylee Ann Barnett; siblings, Evaline Calhoun and Joanne Bettin; and so many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Orpal rested quietly throughout the evening in her home with family by her side as she passed on June 7, 2017. For the last few years she has been prepared for what was to come and often heard saying, "I am ready to go when the good Lord wants me." Welcome home, Orpal.
