- Date Of Birth: November 6, 1932
- Date Of Death: January 8, 2023
- State: Montana
Brave to the end and in the presence of her loving family, Hilda J. Bonilla passed away on January 8, 2023. She was 90 years old.
Hilda was born on December 6, 1932, in Worland, Wyoming to Angel and Elena Guzman. At an early age, her family moved to Billings. Hilda graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1951.
Shortly after her graduation, Hilda began working for Kress’s Department Store in Billings as the bookkeeper. She held that position until 1955. Many of her brothers-in-law and her husband swore that she was the first Latina to hold a non-menial job in Billings.
Also in 1951, she began dating her future husband, Gregg. Hilda and Gregg were married on June 29, 1957, in Billings after Gregg returned home from serving in the Army. Between 1958 and 1969, Hilda and Gregg had five children. Hilda did not work outside the home when her children were young, but rather spent most of her considerable energy ensuring her family was fed and clothed and the house was clean and well-kept.
The family moved to Malta, Montana in 1966 and to Shelby, Montana in 1971, where Hilda and Gregg remained until 2002. It was from Shelby that all of her children and one of her grandchildren, Michael, graduated high school and left home to pursue their own dreams which Hilda always encouraged.
When she deemed her children old enough, Hilda returned to the workplace, working for JC Penney from 1974 to 1976. She then worked for Toole County Bank from 1976 until her first retirement in 1989. Hilda eventually went back to work as a paraeducator for Shelby High School from 1996 to 1999. Even though Hilda worked full time and maintained a household, she and Gregg owned and operated the Star Motel in Shelby from 1978 to 1986.
In 2002, after Hilda and Gregg retired for good, they moved to Fort Benton, Montana. In 2017, they moved to Great Falls. Hilda was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in March 2021. She put up a brave fight for nearly two years before going to the Peace Hospice House in Great Falls on December 30, 2022.
We spoke often about Hilda’s excellent cooking. We dream of her homemade tortillas, of which she may have made over one million in her lifetime. We can still hear the rhythm of her rolling pin as she rolled out the tortilla dough.
Hilda was also adamant about keeping her home clean. She mopped floors at least once a day, even though the floors clearly needed no mopping. Hilda was always dusting furniture that had invisible dust. She ironed nearly every item of clothing her family wore, including T-shirts and underwear.
Hilda also had a green thumb.
Interestingly, Hilda was a knowledgeable and devoted sports fan. She spent years following her children and grandchildren in their wide array of sporting endeavors.
Finally, above all else, Hilda was a woman of profound faith. She was active as a lay minister in the church and volunteered in the community. But more than that, she tried to live the message of the Gospels by simply being the kind, giving person we always knew her to be.
Hilda is survived by her husband, Gregg of Great Falls, children Victor (Leslie) Bonilla of Great Falls, Christina Bonilla (Dan) Ellenwood of Kent, Washington, David (Mary Kay) Bonilla of Great Falls, Gregory (Jamie) Bonilla of Helena, and Steven (Brenda) Bonilla of Santa Maria, California. She is also survived by her sister Betty Gonzalez of Billings, sister-in-law Carmen Guzman of Kansas City, Missouri, and brother-in-law Jesse (Dee) Bonilla of Billings, 23 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Hilda was preceded in death by her parents, Angel and Elena Guzman; siblings Max Guzman, Mary Guzman Lazalde, Philip Guzman, Dorothy Guzman Rivera, and Angel Guzman; father-in-law Clemente Bonilla; mother-in-law Bertha Perez Bonilla; daughter-in-law, Audra Morger-Bonilla; brothers-in-law Jesse Lazalde, Louis Rivera and, James Gonzalez; sisters-in-law Naida Guzman, Linda Guzman, and Maria Bonilla Beltran; and several nieces and nephews.
Hilda loved and was loved, and we will always miss her.
