Harold Hillam

Harold Gordon Hillam passed away at home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, following a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was born September 1, 1934 in Sugar City, Idaho to Gordon R. and Evelyn Skidmore Hillam. He married Carol Lois Rasmussen on June 5, 1958 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were a perfect match.
Harold was a man of vision and great capacity whose primary concern was his family. Instead of giving his children everything they wanted, he gave them what they needed. He built a home on an 80 acre farm south of Idaho Falls, Idaho and taught his children the value of work.
Harold had a remarkable ability to analyze problems and devise solutions. His greatest strength was the ability to help others see a vision of what could be done and instill in them a desire to accomplish that vision. Harold put his whole heart into every assignment he accepted. No matter where he lived around the world, he loved the people and they loved him.
Harold served in many church and civic capacities. An orthodontist by profession, his civic service included membership in the Kiwanis Club in Idaho Falls, Idaho; President of the Rocky Mountain Orthodontic Society; Coordinator of the clean up efforts after the Teton Dam disaster in Southeast Idaho; and President of the Teton Peaks Council, Boy Scouts of America, from whom he received the Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver awards. For the LDS Church he served as a missionary in Brazil; Stake President in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Mission President in Lisbon, Portugal; General Authority; One of the seven presidents of the Seventy; General Sunday School President; Area President of Brazil; Area President of Western Europe; and President of the Boise Idaho Temple.
He is survived by Carol, his wife of 53 years; seven children: Linda (John) Maddox, Orem, Utah; Rodney (Melanie) Hillam, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Bonnie (Derek) Cordon, Curitiba, Brazil; Glenn (Debbie) Hillam, St. Louis, Missouri; Mark (Becky) Hillam, Johns Creek, Georgia; Ryan (Lisa) Hillam, Nampa, Idaho; and Jared (Sarah) Hillam, Austin, Texas; twenty-nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; siblings Wanda Miller, Donna Daniels, Arnold Hillam and Kaylynn Beck. His parents precede him in death.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 2, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful Orchard LDS Stake Center located at 3599 South Orchard Drive, Bountiful, Utah. Friends may visit the family on Sunday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah, and on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Orchard Stake Center. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at Pineview Cemetery, Ashton, Idaho.
The Hillam family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and others who gave Harold such loving care. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, consideration be given to making a donation to the general missionary fund or the temple fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.