Jim R. Hill, M.D.

Jim R. Hill, M.D.

Jim R. Hill, M.D., of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, passed away quietly on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at his home. He was born Oct. 17, 1935. in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jim was a veteran of the United States Air Force and worked as a nuclear weapons engineer. While in the Air Force, Jim found inspiration to pursue medicine as a career. He married Patricia Madden and together they had three children, Michael, Mark and Laura. While raising his family, Jim attended the University of Iowa Medical School, graduating in the top 7 percent of his class. He made his home in Boone, Iowa, where he practiced medicine for 10 years.

After his divorce, he married Rosemary Hornberg. Together they decided to move their family to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where Jim could pursue his dream of practicing medicine in a small rural community. He and Rosemary quickly fell in love with the people and stunning beauty of Bonners Ferry. Working as a team, Jim and Rosemary served their patients for 23 years. He loved the challenge of a small community practice where he could care for each person and their families. Jim genuinely felt that his patients were family.

Jim enjoyed many things. He was a minor league baseball player and enjoyed telling the story of playing against the legendary Mickey Mantle. He enjoyed tennis, golf, skiing, fishing and never missed a chance to cheer for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Jim was an avid reader, from medical journals to physics and science fiction. He always had a book list ready for his daughter Laura to be discussed on the next phone call.

He will be greatly missed but lives on through his wife, children, grandchildren and the community he loved so dearly.

Jim is survived by his wife Rosemary; children Michael (Jane) Hill, Mark (Bonnie) Hill, Laura (Joe) Schlough; and grandchildren Travis, Brett and Alexander.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Thelma Hill; sisters Mervyn Hill, Vivian Davidson, Geraldine Bales and RaeEllen Clark; and former wife Patricia Madden.

There will be a celebration of life for Jim in the summer of 2018. Details for the celebration will be announced at a later date.