Matti Albert Hill passed away on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at Cascade Lodge in Chilliwack at the age of 82 years. He was born on August 13, 1924 in the old family homestead house at Gleneden, Salmon Arm, B.C. During the end of the war years he was required to stay home and care for the farm and elderly parents.
Matt later found his way to Port Renfrew where some members of his family were employed. Here he was employed as a delivery truck driver. He soon co-owned this trucking business. He sold the business and returned to Salmon Arm where this dashing young man met, and soon married, his wife Lilly in 1952. He was briefly employed at an apple packing plant and trucking company hauling gravel for road construction.
From there, Matt was hired by the B.C. Forest Service Engineering Division where he built forestry access roads throughout the province. Some of the projects included Hixon, Houston, Kispiox, Campbell River, Gold River, Buttle Lake, Harrison Lake West, Chilliwack Lake road, and Maca Dam clearing. Matt enjoyed his work and received numerous awards and safety certificates. He later advanced to construction superintendent. Throughout the more than 30 years with the B.C.F.S., Matt took his growing, young family with him to many remote areas of B.C. In 1966, still with the B.C.F.S, he permanently settled his family in Chilliwack as the kids were now in high school.
As a young man, Matt enjoyed the outdoors by skiing, hunting and fishing and after his retirement, “Popsy” learned how to change diapers, spoil his pooches, tend his garden and trees and search for that elusive darn mole that always kept one step ahead of him!
Matt is survived by his wife Lilly, daughter Debbie (Dwayne) Clegg, son Gordon (Margaret) Hill, grandchildren Lisa, Keith, Matt, David and Jessica, and by one sister, Mamie Reynolds of Salmon Arm, B.C. and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother Liisa, father Victor and nine brothers and sister.
A family gathering to celebrate Pop’s live will be held at a later date.