Yvonne Natalie Hiltabrand, age 62, went to join her Lord and Savior on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2015 at St. Peter’s Hospital peacefully with her family at her side after a long extended illness; she battled numerous illnesses from an early age to passing.
She was born on September 12, 1952 in Helena to George and Grace (Wood) Hiltabrand.
She attended grade school and Helena High School, while in high school she worked as a candy striper at the Masonic Home. After graduating from High school she completed a two year associate degree in nursing at Helena Vo Tech where she graduated as an LPN. She continued her nursing in Montana, Nevada and California, she ended her nursing career in California due to health problems and returned home in Helena to be closer to her family.
Yvonne was a member of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, serving in several stations. She joined Miriam Chapter #1 Order of the Eastern Star October 8, 1974 and held several stations. She joined Sapphira Temple #79, Helena on September 14, 1988 serving in many stations and was elected Queen in 1996, she said this was her proudest moment in her life. She was appointed to serve Supreme Temple Banner escort for the Supreme Temple in 2015. Yvonne was also a member of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Lisa Yvonne Knowles, her father, George Hiltabrand, grandparents, Arthur and Florence Nelson, Henry and Lois Hiltabrand, uncles, Arthur Nelson, Richard Bidmead, Herbert Hiltabrand, Harold (Shirley) Hiltabrand. She is survived by her son, William Leitzke, Alberton, mother, Grace Hiltabrand of Helena, brothers Herbert (Jo Lane) Hiltabrand of Mentor, MN, Scot (Lynn) Hiltabrand of Shingle Springs, CA, Richard Wood of East Helena and Donald Wood of East Helena. Aunts, Auriel Hiltabrand, East Helena, Suzanne Bidmead, Helena, Frances Nelson, East Helena. Three grandchildren, Alisha, Natosha and Michael Leitzke of Michigan, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was loved by her family and will be dearly missed. Private family services will be held at a later date in the spring. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Sapphira Temple No. 79 Daughters of the Nile, c/o Linda Hiltabrand, P.O. Box 96, Helena, MT 59624.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Carma Sinerius says
So sorry for your loss! My thoughts and prayers to all the family!
JoAnn says
I am sorry for your loss. She gave her life to christ a few yrs back and was a good person despite our differences as a mother-in-law I loved her. She will be missed. Her fav quote “Bite Me” 🙂
Love always your daughter Jo
Freddi Haab-Fiedler says
Grace & family – sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Vi Madison says
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I didn’t have the honor to have meet her, But knew from her loving Mother she was having a problem. Her Mother was a very loving Mother and was by her side always. You are all in my prayers. God bless all the family!
Elaine Myles says
Where do I begin? I’ve pretty much known Yvonne all my life. We came in and out of each other’s lives throughout the years. There are just some relationships where years apart don’t seem to make a difference. We were a lot different, but accepted that about each other and things were good between us. We were cousins. At the end of her life we were more than that. We were cousins, friends, and sisters in Christ.
Yvonne had a strong spirit and I didn’t know of many things that she was afraid of. Her bravery in life was something I admired. There were a couple times growing up when she found out someone was picking on me. It would make her so mad. She would find that person, bring them to tears, march them up to me, and make them apologize. They never bothered me again. Being Yvonne’s cousin was a good thing in Helena.
She had a stubborn side and often times would be mad for a few days, but I could always calmly talk to her and help her see things in a different way. She would always listen to me, but there were times when we would agree to disagree, and that was good enough for us.
She walked into my life again in 2011 when she came to the City to license her dog Morgan, who she had adopted from the Animal Shelter. She and Morgan were inseparable. Yvonne and I picked up where we left off.
God drew Yvonne to himself through his Son Jesus Christ. Moving back from California and getting used to winter again wasn’t one of her favorite things. She called me one day and said she was looking out her window watching it snow and felt totally at peace and as white as the snow. Two of her favorite verses from the Bible became John 14:27 and Isaiah 1:18. She also loved reading and hearing the Psalms.
She dearly loved her children William and Lisa. The last time I saw her she said she didn’t want to leave her son. However, she was looking forward to seeing her daughter. Even though she knew God was in control and she was at peace with his will it was a bitter sweet time for her.
My sympathy, prayers, and thoughts are with her family. I will miss her smile, her laugh, her spunk, her company, but I know I will see her again someday, and she is finally at rest praising God. Rev 14:13
Jackie Lynch Peila says
My condolences to Yvonne’s family and friends. I knew Yvonne through the Experience Works program. She was a no nonsense girl. She worked hard and stretched her limitations. She was funny and kind, and always displayed integrity with humor and acceptance. Not until I read her obituary did I know of all her accomplishments. She was a humble woman. And now, she is resting in comfort and peace. May the Blessings Be.