Dorothy Bernice Hills Trussell

Dorothy Bernice Hills Trussell, long time Snoqualmie Valley resident, passed away peacefully on September 10th, 2015.

Born March 25th, 1920 on Peshastin Creek, WA to parents Charles and Rosina Hills. She was the oldest girl in a family of 9 children, including 4 brothers, and 4 sisters. Raised on a farm and learned at a young age the value of having a strong work ethic. She always enjoyed working out-of-doors with her brothers and Father and often stated that she preferred that to cleaning house. Ironically, she became a meticulous house-keeper and was a firm believer in the old adage that “cleanliness was next to Godliness”. She also learned the art of sewing and was quite an accomplished seamstress, making a lot of her children’s clothes.

Dorothy attended school in Peshastin where she graduated from High School in 1938. During her Senior year, she attended a community dance where she met Rodney Trussell, the man who would quickly become the love of her life. She and Rodney started dating and were engaged before she completed high school. They were married on May 19th, 1940 and enjoyed almost 48 years together before he died in December of 1988.

Together they had 5 children: Jerry, Garry, Bernice, Elaine and Rosalie. They lost Bernice when she was only 12 days old. They lived in several different homes throughout their marriage, mostly on Whidbey Island and Snoqualmie Falls where Rodney worked at Weyerhaeuser Timber Co.

Dorothy always enjoyed gardening and raised all types of vegetables and berries which she would freeze or can . She also loved flowers and her yard was always greatly admired by neighbors and family. She was a very hard-worker and when she wasn’t keeping busy with her house and yard work, she enjoyed helping cut, split and stack many cords of firewood.

After her children were raised, she started working at the North Bend Nursing Home, both as a Nurse’s Aide and in the laundry. Being of a very caring and giving nature, this was a job that suited her well. She worked there for more than 10 years, then retired to spend time with her husband going camping, fishing, and traveling with their travel trailer.

Both Dorothy and Rodney were very caring, giving individuals, and were always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who they thought needed it. Many benefitted by their generosity and willingness to help.

In their younger years, they both loved to dance and attended many dance halls where people would clear the dance floor to watch them perform their fancy footwork.

Dorothy became a member of the Snoqualmie Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1958 and was very active in the Dorcas Society and also led out, volunteering many hours at the Community Service Center. She was the official “greeter” each week for years welcoming church members and visitors with a hug, handshake, and always a big warm smile. She loved her Church family and she truly loved her Lord..this was exemplified in the way she attempted to live her life and by the examples she set.

She kept a calendar marked with each family member’s and all friends’ birthdays and anniversaries and was very faithful in sending cards for each occasion.

Dorothy lived in her own home up until January 2013, when due to health reasons, she was placed in assisted living at Grace Gentle Care in Bellevue. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Mike and Diana Jurjescu and their staff for the wonderful care she received while there.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Bernice; husband Rodney, and son, Garry. She had a wonderful, life lasting for over 95 years and leaves a legacy of 3 children: son, Jerry Trussell of Snoqualmie; and daughters Elaine Becker (Gary) of Kittitas; and Rosalie Beringer (Dick) of Tenino. Also 9 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren. Survivors also include a brother Walter Hills of North Bend, sister Phyllis McKinney of Everett, and sister-in-law Pat Hills of Peshastin.

Memorial Services will be held at the  Bellevue SDA Church on October 11th at11:00 a.m.