Ollie Dell Hillen

Ollie Dell Hillen, 92, of Moberly, passed away, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.  She was born, March 29, 1933, in Higbee, to the union of Jessie and Temperance (Rucker) Hendren.

Ollie Dell was born 6th in the line of 9 siblings, of which she was the last surviving one.  At age 10, the family moved from Higbee to Moberly, where she spent the rest of her life. During her younger years, she loved to go to Saturday night dances with her sister, E. B.  She met and fell in love with Paul Hillen, because of his witty humor.  After he was honorably discharged from the army, serving in the Korean War, they married in 1953.

Ollie Dell dreamed of having 2 children naming the boy Roger Dale (after Roy Rogers) and a girl named Rhonda Gayle (after the actress Rhonda Fleming).  However, 6 children were born within 13 years: Rhonda (Neil) Hall, Huntsville; Robyn (Jim) Ehrett, Cairo; Roger, Moberly; Renae Seaborn, South Carolina; Regina Kanatzer (Randy), and Russell, Moberly.  Her family has since grown to 14 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.  Working full time as a telephone operator, raising the family with endless chores, gave her little time for hobbies.  Six rowdy children proved a challenge to find and keep babysitters.

In 1972 they bought their “40-acre” farm east of Moberly where Paul built the house by himself.  After Paul’s death in 1981, Ollie Dell continued to live on this homestead until moving to the Aspire Nursing Home in 2024.  In 1987 Ollie Dell asked Jesus into her heart as her Savior and was baptized at Sweet Springs Baptist Church.  During Christmastime, Ollie Dell loved to bake numerous loaves of her famous pumpkin bread in 1-lb coffee cans to share with friends and family. 

She would give you the shirt off her back, oftentimes sacrificing for herself. She absolutely loved to visit, whether you stopped by her house, or she went to town shopping.  You could always count on her running into more than a few people she knew.  Until the latter years of her life, Ollie Dell enjoyed sitting outdoors under the shade tree watching the traffic go by and waiting for a visitor. 

At age 77, Ollie finally had to retire from the Senior Center but not because she wanted to.  As her health declined and she was unable to care for herself, she moved to Aspire Nursing Home in May 2024.  In February she was placed on hospice.  The family appreciates the staff at Aspire for giving mom the attention and care she needed.  She became attached to many of her aides.  Also much gratitude to Hospice Compassus for watching over her in her last days.  She went to Jesus peacefully in her sleep and is now in his heavenly loving arms forever more!

Words of comfort and support may be shared with the family at a visitation to be held, Saturday, April 26, 2025, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, at Cater Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral services honoring and celebrating Ollie Dell's life will follow at 3:30 pm.  Committal prayer and burial will be held at Oakland Cemetery.