OBITUARIES
Margaret Lucille Alter
Margaret Lucille Alter, 83, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. She was born Jan. 20, 1934, to Ramon and Lena Teer-Stallings, in Kansas City, Mo.
She graduated from Central High School in 1951 and Central Missouri State College in 1955 with a degree in Music Education. She married George C. Alter in 1955, and they celebrated 61 years of marriage.
After retirement from the Kansas City Public School System, she and George relocated to Bella Vista, where she enjoyed new friends, gardening, beautiful terrain, mild seasons, the Village Art Club, playing in the Community Band, basket weaving, paper quilling, needlework and playing with her three West Highland Terriers.
Survivors include three children, Michael, Dale, and Carolyn; and three grandchildren, Alexandra, Valentina and Cody.
A memorial service will be held at Bella Vista Funeral Home Chapel, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd, Bella Vista, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to the Bella Vista Community Band, 214 Ridgefield St., Bentonville, AR 72712; or the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, 32 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista, AR 72714.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.
Bella Vista Funeral Home of Bella Vista is in charge of arrangements.
Thomas Foster
Thomas Foster, 89, died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Ark. He was born Feb. 11, 1927, to Sydney P. Foster and Dorothy Bennett Foster.
He proudly in the U.S. Navy and was a graduate of Northwestern University. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He married Dorothy Bintz in 1952. After a successful career with Dow Chemical, they retired to Bella Vista, Ark.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; and two sons, Timothy and Robert.
Survivors include his sister, Helen F. Schaper; a nephew, David Schaper and wife Barbara; a niece, Susan Schaper Harris; the Wiley family, Mike, Tom, Susan, Carol and John; and the Bintz family, Joan, wife of the deceased John, Heidi (and daughters Elle and Sophie), Carl and John; wife, Barbara R. Foster; two stepsons, Chris and Brad Schroeder; a stepdaughter, Lisa Friesen and husband Doug; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Hill City, Kan.
Donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, in memory of Thomas Foster, 30 East 33rd St., New York, N.Y. 10016 or go to kidney.org.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.
Bella Vista Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
John ‘Jack’ Hillyer
John “Jack” Hillyer, M.D., age 90, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather died peacefully on Feb. 3, 2017, at the Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains, N.J. Born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, to Canadian Baptist Missionary parents Dr. Herbert S. Hillyer and Lena G. (Derby) Hillyer, he spent his early years in the mission field with his family. At age 11, he moved to Canada with his brother and later completed his undergraduate degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and his M.D. at the University of Toronto Medical School. In 1950, he married June M. Wilhelm. Jack practiced medicine for two years in Grimsby, Ontario, before moving to Flat Rock Michigan to join the Flat Rock Medical Center. He and his wife June (d), resided in Flat Rock for 28 years where they raised their sons, David, Michael and Larry.
In the mid 1960s, he moved his medical practice to the Trenton Medical Center where he practiced until 1982. During these years he obtained his Boards in Family Practice and was awarded his Fellowship in Family Practice. Jack was active at three Michigan Hospitals - Wyandotte General Hospital in Wyandotte, Seaway Hospital in Trenton, and Monroe Mercy Hospital in Monroe. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Flat Rock and an avid pilot with an instrument rating.
In 1982, Jack accepted a position as Clinic Director with Conoco Oil in Ponca City, Okla., and two years later assumed the role of Medical Director for the Dubai Petroleum Company medical facility in the United Arab Emirates. After five years in the Middle East, Jack and June retired to Bella Vista, Ark.
In retirement, Jack remained active in the community. He and June joined St. Theodore Episcopal Church where he served one term on the vestry and one year as Senior Warden. He continued practicing medicine, providing pro bono work at both Poplar House Clinic in Rogers, Ark., and St. Frances House in Springdale, Ark. For many years, he and June provided medical support to special needs adults at the Episcopal Camp at Camp Mitchell on Petit Jean Mountain, Ark. He continued flying as part of the Civil Air Patrol in Arkansas and became an enthusiastic member of the Bella Vista Bicycle Club.
Jack is predeceased by his wife of 66 years, June M. (Wilhelm) Hillyer, who passed away in August 2016. He is survived by two brothers and their wives, Sydney and Betty Hillyer of Adencliff, Ontario, and Keith and Beverley Hillyer of Stratford, Ontario; sons David of Fair Oaks, California, Michael (and Grace) of Springfield, N.J., and Larry LaManes of Sacramento, Calif.; as well as six grandchildren, Evelyn, John, Jennifer, April, Christopher and Steven.
A memorial service followed by inurnment of ashes will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017, at St. Theodore Episcopal Church, 1001 Kingsland Road, Bella Vista, Arkansas 72715. A reception to celebrate the lives of Jack and June will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Theodore Episcopal Church; the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, 5777 W. Century Boulevard, Suite 800, Los Angeles, California 90045; or the charity of your choice.
PAID OBITUARY
Helen Milam
Helen Milam, 98, died Jan. 20, 2017.
She was a 1938 graduate of Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan., She then mar- ried R.D. “Mike” Milam, and they moved to Lawrence, Kan., where he enrolled in the University of Kansas’ School of Business. That began a series of 12 moves, including Mike’s days in San Diego during World War II.
She was an active member of the Bella Vista Community Church, the Organ Club and the Women’s Five-Hole Golf League.
She and Mike, who preceded her in death in 2013 after 75 years of marriage, had lived in Bella Vista since 1980.
Survivors include her three children, Judy Karr and husband Jeffry, Ron Milam and wife Maxine, and Mike Milam and wife Sally; three grandsons, Alex and his wife Traci, Justin and his wife Carrie, and Joshua; and six great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place through Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at Bella Vista Community Church.
The Milam family wishes to express their appreciation for the loving kindness and support of Linda and Harry Cheek, Todd Mitchell and his mother Kathy, and Aunt Helen, the members of the Bella Vista Community Church and its Pastor Jeff Reed, caregivers Glenda Klint, Carolyn Lockett, Barbara Peitsch, Sharon Cochran, and Texas Tech student Uyen “Carie” Nguyen.
In lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Bella Vista Community Church or the Bentonville Chapter of the Breast Cancer Society.
Bella Vista Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dale Nelson
Dale Nelson, 64, of Springdale, Ark., died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at his home. He was born Nov. 29, 1952, in Dallas, Texas, to James and Gertrude Nelson.
He was a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant. He served his country for over 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a younger brother, Jamin Brice.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly Nelson; three children, Anthony Nelson and wife Lola of Alba, Mo., Christopher Nelson and wife Sonja of Bella Vista, Ark., and Jessica Holmes and husband Matt of Prairie Grove, Ark.; a brother, Michael Jones of Altus, Ark.; a sister, Janice Jones and husband Willie of Ozark, Ark.; grandchildren, eight grandchildren, and a future grandson, Holden, who is due to arrive in June.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Gravette, Ark.
Burial followed at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas School for the Deaf, 2400 W. Markham S., Little Rock, AR 72205.
Arrangements were under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.
Bella Vista Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
David Palmer
David Palmer, 73, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in his home after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born Sept. 30, 1943, to Raymond and Mary Palmer, in Union Grove, Wis.
He graduated from Union Grove High School in 1961.
He was employed by ServiceMaster and Johnson Controls.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Sherrill Barker of Texas.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Carol; three children, Kelly Palmer and wife Jeanie from Troy, Mont., Jim Palmer of Bentonville, Ark., and Sue Bauer and husband Mike of Muncie, Ind.; eight grandchildren; a great-grandson; and two nieces, Kim Cooper and Deanna Murrell of Texas.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, at Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel in Bella Vista.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Circle of Life Hospice Care, Bentonville, Ark.; or Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.
Bella Vista Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.