Betty Larraine Hill

October 17, 1956 – September 13, 2019 – (age 62)

Betty Larraine Hill was born to Leon and Betty Lou Humphery McDonald on October 17, 1956 in Valley, Alabama.  Larraine grew up in Valley, Alabama until the age of 11 when her and her brother, Doyle (Buster) moved to Utah with their father, Leon. There she attended Lincoln Elementary School in Hyrum, Utah. She later received her GED and graduated from Cosmetology school in Brigham City, Utah. Larraine went on to work for La-Z-Boy, Thiokol, Nucor, Kmart and her own T-shirt business on South Main in Logan, that she started with her sister, Raylene.

Their dog boarding venture came next. After four years of pleading with Darwin, she finally convinced him to let her get their first poodle, “Peaches”. Larraine could not find a groomer that made her happy, so she taught herself, probably at “Peaches” expense. Darwin built her a grooming salon in their basement and she went into the dog grooming business. After a few years, she started having problems with her lungs and was later told by doctors she would have to start grooming in a mask or quit. She tried grooming with the mask, but finally gave it up and told Darwin they were going to start boarding. Her family discouraged this idea, but she still pursued it with full speed ahead and 33 years later she was the self-appointed CEO of Furry Friends Pet Kennels. They spent hours working together in their new facility where they welcomed all kinds of animals.

Larraine was very active and enjoyed spending summers at their cabin in Bear Lake and snowmobiling in the winter. She loved camping and horses (when they minded her). They enjoyed a couple of seven day pack trips into the Teton wilderness with their good friends, Neil and Donna McBride and their golden retriever, Buckly.

She enjoyed many hunting trips with her father; Leon. When Darwin was at work during the week Larraine and Leon would road hunt all over the Cache National Forest. On one elk hunt, she never filled her tag by the time everyone was ready to go home, so she convinced Darwin to leave the trailer. She ended up staying with Jeremy and Alisha for three days later, she called Darwin, letting him know she shot an elk and to bring the horse. The three of them had field dressed it by the book and they were sitting on the elk below their camp when Darwin arrived.

Larraine at a young age married Mike Horne. During her marriage, she had a son, Micheal born August 21, 1972, followed by her daughter Alisha, born September 7, 1976. Larraine and Mike later divorced. After her divorce, in 1981, Larraine met and married Vern Velasques in Elko, Nevada. They were divorced a year later. Shortly after she fell in love with Darwin Hill. They were married in Hyrum, Utah on February 9, 1983 and made their home in Wellsville, Utah. Years later they were sealed in the Logan Temple on August 20, 2004.

Larraine was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Lou Humphery McDonald, her step-mother, Leah McDonald, and step-brother, Terrill Gibbs.

She is survived by her loving husband, Darwin, her father, Leon McDonald, her daughter, Alisha Gallo (Riley), her son Micheal Horne (Chantay), step-sons, Shawn Hill, JayDee Hill (Carrie), and Jeremy Hill (Nikki), her brother, Doyle (Buster) McDonald, step-sisters, Raylene Van Leeuwen (Gary), and Debbie Gibbs along with 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

A viewing will be held at Nyman Funeral Home, 753 South 100 East, Logan, Utah on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 6:00 – 8:00pm and also Wednesday, September 25, 2019 from 9:30am – 10:30am with the funeral following at 11:00am. Graveside service to follow at Wellsville City Cemetery, 400 North 200 East, Wellsville, Utah.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at nymanfh.com

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