Lola Hillman

Lola Ruth Range Hillman was born February 24, 1921 on the homestead farm southwest of Glen Elder, Kansas to Homer Lee Hill and Florence Evelyn Marzolf Hill and passed away June 13, 2014 at Salina Regional Hospital in Salina, Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Orville Hill, a sister Evelyn Nigro, two step sons Earl and Morris Hillman, and her first husband Orval Range. Lola is survived by her husband Cecil Hillman of Beloit; children Darlene (Edward) Schellinger of Middleville, Michigan, Douglas (Judy) Range of Burrton, Kansas, and Debra (Steve) Keezer of Cawker City, as well as sisters Alma Howell of Alta Vista, California and Thelma O'Harro of Glen Elder, and a step daughter Patricia (Frank) Diemart of Ionia, Kansas; grandchildren Paul Schellinger, Jeffrey Schellinger, Amy Pike, Adam Range, Melinda Brummer, and Tanda Colby; step grandchildren Shane Hillman, Ranae Jacobs, Renita Volkeer, Shelli Kuhlmann, Louanna Frakes, Brenda Roberts, and Chris Tastillo; many great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Lola attended grade school at Naomi #29, a country school that her mother had also attended. She graduated from Glen Elder High School with the Class of 1939.
She met Orval Range at a barn dance, and they were married on July 4, 1939, and to this union their three children Darlene, Douglas, and Debra were born. They lived in California for a short time before Orval was shipped overseas and then in Colorado following his return from World War II. They then moved to Glen Elder for the remainder of their married life. Lola and Orval owned and ran the "Sportsman's Café" (Best little café by a dam site) from 1967 to 1982. Orval passed away on January 7, 1986.
Lola was united in marriage with Cecil Hillman on April 11, 1987 and moved to Ionia, where she had a small café that served a daily special with two choices, take it or leave it.
Lola loved her family with a passion, and their pictures and achievements were often posted on her refrigerator. She also loved nature and was often seen tending to her flowers and birds, and squirrels would eat from her hand. She also saw the beauty in rocks, and when she and Cecil were married, he had to move her rock garden to Ionia.
Lola was a member of the Glen Elder United Methodist Church, Naomi Chapter #28 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Lola was not only a loving wife, mother, and grandmother – she was a great friend to many. She not only was a joy to know – she inspired all to have a joy for life. All who knew her, knew that even though she was small in stature, she was mighty in spirit and faith.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, June 20, 2014 at the Glen Elder United Methodist Church with burial following in the Glenwood Cemetery at Glen Elder. Memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice or the Mitchell County Hospital Resident Care Center. Friends may call from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the McDonald Funeral Home in Beloit.