BENJAMIN HAGER, Standard-Examiner file photo

OGDEN — Karen Hill loved to sew blankets and always had one on hand just in case someone was sick, cold or having a rough day.

“She loved to make blankets and give them away and she always made sure she kept a bag full of them at the Timbermine,” said Hill’s daughter, Julie Roylance “If someone was sick or they lost a loved one or one of their family members were sick, she would get a blanket out and give it to them. Even if they were cold, she would give them a blanket to warm them up and tell them to keep it.”

On Sunday, Hill passed away from complications of heart failure, leaving behind her husband Kent, four children, 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and numerous employees who worked for her at the Timbermine Steakhouse. She was 83, according to her obituary.

“It’s going to be tough without her here,” said her son, Mike Hill. “She loved being at work and loved to be out front to see and visit with the customers.”

Karen Hill, along with her first husband, Dean, and friends Carl and Pat Jorgensen, opened the Timbermine Steakhouse in 1985. Before that, the Hills operated the Pioneer Cafe and the Prairie Schooner Steakhouse.

Valerie Phillips, Special to the Standard-Examiner

“She was one of the kindest ladies I’ve ever known,” said Stefanie Jensen, an employee at the restaurant. “She didn’t just treat you like an employee. She treated you like family. She would always ask how you were doing and how your family was doing. She truly cared about people and was such a wonderful person. I don’t think there’s a person out there who didn’t like her. She is going to be so missed.”

Mike Hill also said his mother loved to decorate the restaurant and had boxes full of Christmas, Halloween, Easter and Fourth of July decorations.

“She always made it such a fun environment,” he said. “She actually had about 30 Christmas trees she would put up and she loved decorating them all.”

Karen Hill was very involved in the community, including the Military Affairs, Women in Business and Spikers groups with the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce. She also provided service through the YCC Family Crisis Center. Even as busy as she was, she always had time for her family.

“She was always so concerned about her kids and grandkids. It didn’t matter what else she had going, she made sure she attended every sporting event, dance recital, graduation, you name it,” Mike Hill said. “Toward the end when she couldn’t make it to the restaurant anymore, I would always call her on my way home from work. She always wanted to know how things went and who was there to visit — and if any of her friends came in. Last night it was very hard making that drive home.”

Roylance said her mother was a classy lady who loved shopping and making sure she was always dressed and ready for the day, even if she wasn’t planning to go anywhere.

“She always said if you do your hair and makeup, you’ll feel better about yourself,” she said. “Even after her heart surgery, she made sure she had her hair and makeup done because it made her feel better.”

Brenda Crossley, whose parents were partners with the Hills, said Karen was like a family member.

“We were all just family,” she said. “She was always thinking about us and always happy to see us. She was very compassionate and beautiful and elegant. She cared about everyone. It will be an honor to carry on her legacy.”

Hill’s favorite color was red, her children said, and she always drove a red car. Her favorite was a red Camaro her husband gave her as a gift several years ago.

“Red was just her color, and because she loved to make blankets, we’re going to put a big red Minky (Couture) blanket around her in her casket,” Mike Hill said. “This is going to be hard. It’s hard already. She was a wonderful mother and a wonderful friend.”

Roylance agrees.

“I always knew I was loved. She made that very clear to all of us.”

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