Albert "Bert" W. Hill, 60, died at home Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006. He was born Feb. 7, 1946, to George and Ruth (Denny) Hill in Nezperce, Idaho. Bert attended Grangeville High School and graduated from Boise State University in 1969. He married Eileen Dick in Boise on Dec. 23, 1967. He and his wife moved to Lincoln City, Ore., where he taught high school from September 1969 through June 1981.

While at Taft High School, he completed his Master's Degree at Western Oregon University, coached wrestling and football and helped start the girl's softball program. He was a favorite of students and teachers and made many lifelong friends.

Their son, Chris, was born in Lincoln City in March 1980. Bert, Eileen and Chris moved back to Boise in November 1981. Bert's greatest joy was following Chris' baseball career from T-ball with East Boise Little League, through Bishop Kelly High School, then on to Scottsdale Community College and finally Eastern New Mexico University. He and Eileen were avid fans and traveled with the local teams to their championship games as well as traveling through Arizona, Texas and New Mexico for his collegiate games. A permanent fixture in their backyard for many years was a batting cage and pitching machine - also used by neighborhood friends and teammates. Many treasured friendships were made during Chris' baseball years.

When not busy watching baseball games, Bert became a real estate appraiser, working hard to earn his MAI designation. He established Albert Hill Appraisal Services, and was working as a commercial appraiser at the time of his death. In this capacity, he established friendships with the clients and agencies he worked with. Bert was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Euzkaldunak, Inc., the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, the Appraisal Institute, The National Association of Realtors, and was a fervent supporter of the Bronco Athletic Association.

He is survived by Eileen, his wife of almost 40 years; son, Chris; mother-in-law Rose Dick; brother, George (Marliss) Hill of Battleground, Wash.; sisters, Dorothy (Harvey) Lochhead of Spokane, Wash.; Phyllis (Bob) Parish of Twin Falls; and Shirley Smith of Boise; Eileen's sisters, Liz (Dave) Hardesty and Jan Gaythwaite, and brother, John (Shannon) Dick of Boise; many nieces and nephews as well as many great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ruth Hill; sister, Marilyn Boe; father-in-law, Robert Dick; and nephew, Brandon Dick.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m., today, Oct. 26, 2006, at St. Johns Cathedral, 807 N. 8th St., Boise, Rev. Donald J. Riffle will preside. Burial will follow at Morris Hill Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Gibson Funeral Home. Donations in Bert's memory may be made to Euzkaldunak, Inc., 607 Grove Street, Boise, ID 83702; The Basque Museum & Cultural Center, 611 Grove Street, Boise, ID 83702; or Make-A-Wish Foundation, 4355 Emerald Street, Suite 280, Boise, ID 83706.

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