Steven Jay Hill will always be remembered as a loving husband, a devoted father, a brilliant engineer, a farm boy at heart, and an honorable salesman. Steve’s life was full of stories that grew taller every year.
A favorite saying of his from Mark Twain was to never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Born on September 4, 1951 to parents Elfridi and William Hill in Frankenmooth, Michigan, Steve spent his childhood creating mischief with his older brother Bill. From a rocket made out of matchstick heads and a CO2 canister that blew up more like a bomb, to hunting vermin with his pellet gun, his parents had their hands full. For all their mischief Steve and Billy developed an honest character working hard on their father’s farm.
Steve graduated high school in 1969, 2nd in his class, captain of the debate team, and third string running back. Eager to seek new experiences and greater challenges, he packed up and drove out to study aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado. In 1973 he graduated with a Masters, and accepted an engineering job offer at Boeing, relocating to Seattle, Washington.
Steve worked for Boeing for 37 years in numerous roles in both military and commercial. During this time he also began working weekends as a National Ski Patroller at Hyak, where he would eventually meet his wife. In 1978, Steve married Drusilla Ann Confer.
He was also an avid and successful hunter. He annually hunted black powder elk season in Washington and rifle deer season in Colorado. He loved fishing and crabbing in the northwest. He was a hiker and made time to golf whenever he could.
Their family grew with the birth of their children Caerley, Anna, and Tyler. In 1991, Steve joined Boeing’s international sales team and their family moved abroad. They lived in Blaricum, The Netherlands, and later Walton-On-Thames, England. Steve sold airplanes to British Airways, KLM, Iceland Air, Ryanair, and more.
In 1999, Steve accepted a new position developing an international engineering customer support network for Boeing Business Jets and the family relocated to a ten acre farm in Enumclaw, Washington. Five years later he became the President of BBJ. Steve sold luxury airplanes around the world. From trips to the Super Bowl with Hugh Hefner, to watching Monaco’s F1 race with Prince Albert, to ending up on Steve Wynn’s speed dial, Steve’s work offered both he and his wife incredible life experiences. But through it all, Steve’s happiest place was riding around their farm on his second hand tractor and working on an ever growing list of projects.
Steve retired at 55. He and Drusilla became snowbirds, spending half their year in the sunshine of Tucson, Arizona and the other half back in Washington. He was beyond the moon when he became a grandfather to Madeline McShane as well as Tomas and Charlie Johnson. His favorite thing was spending time with his family but mostly his grandchildren. In 2023, Steve passed away in his sleep. He was a beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Those lucky enough to know Steve will keep his memory alive by telling and retelling the antics and adventures they shared throughout his life.
