Wayne Odus Hill

A funeral service for Wayne Hill was held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Prairie View Gospel Barn in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Ron Rice officiating and Pastor Allen Bouslaugh sharing memories.

Shawnda Hazen accompanied the congregation on piano for several hymns. Stephen Hazen was soloist for Going Home and Supper Time. Gwen Holmberg and Marlene Smutny were in charge of registration, and Wayne’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren were flower attendants.

Dudley Klein, Terry Denny, Bruce DeMers, Joe Bolton, Stephen Hazen, and Grant Berens were casket bearers. Ryan Myers, Aaron Myers, Anthony Rice, and Sam Hazen were honorary casket bearers.

Interment was at Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home, Gregory, SD, handled the arrangements.

Wayne Hill was born March 1, 1931, in Pretty Prairie, Kansas, to George and Elsie (Meador) Hill. He was the third child born of eleven children. In February of 1947, the family, George, Elsie, Wayne, and eight siblings moved to Cope, Colorado. He worked alongside his dad and brothers on the family farm in the fields and milking in the dairy cow operation.

Wayne married Alice Rudnik on April 10, 1950, in Cope, CO. They lived on a farm and later in town at Cope for 10 years. In 1960, they moved to a farm south of Colome, SD, to begin a new life together.

For many years, they milked cows as a dairy business and had stock cattle. In 1984, they began operating a sheep business which included ewes with baby lambs and later with feeder lambs. Wayne turned the business over to his son Bradley in July 1992. He continued to help Brad with the farming and feeding the lambs until his eyesight prevented him from doing what he loved.

Alice passed away on March 1, 2010. Wayne and Alice would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 10, 2010.

On May 5, 2012, Wayne married Amy Roggow in Gregory, SD. Amy and her first husband, Vilas (who passed away in 2009), were best friends of Wayne and Alice. Wayne and Amy were blessed to be together for 13 years.

Wayne began struggling with major health issues in his early 20’s. At age 32, he had one of the very first ileostomy surgeries ever performed. His surgeon in Yankton, SD, told him he didn’t expect to give him much time but would do his best to give him a few more years. Through the following years he had multiple relapses and surgeries, however, Wayne always had a strong will and spirit and pushed through the many hurdles this difficult lifestyle presented.

Wayne was a man of high integrity, honest and fair in all he did. He was hard working and was actually difficult to keep up with when walking across the farmyard. He often would encourage us to stay strong and never give up. Attending church and church activities was always a priority for him and his family at the Assembly of God Church in Gregory, SD.

Wayne Odus Hill, age 94, passed away August 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. He is survived by his wife Amy; daughters Diana (Jim) Davis, Navarre, FL, Rita (Dave) Myers, Canton, SD, and Judy (Ron) Rice, Navarre, FL; son Brad (Fran) Hill, Colome, SD; step-daughters Shawnda Hazen, Burke, SD, and Marlene Krumwiede, Trimont, MN; sisters, Mary (Herb) Davidson, Tucson, AR, and Nita (Paul) Phillips, Yuma, CO; brothers Harold (Wanda) Hill, Conroe, TX, Darrell (Connie) Hill, Briggsdale, CO, and Gary (Jackie) Hill, Kirk, CO. Together he and his wife Amy have 18 grandchildren (32 including spouses), 42 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Wayne is preceded in death by his first wife Alice (Rudnik) Hill of 60 years; stepson Dwight Roggow; parents George and Elsie Hill; sister Rozetta Zimmerman; and brothers Kieth Hill, Dean Hill, Roy Hill, and Glen Hill.

To honor Wayne’s memory, the family suggests donations to Burke Community Meals.