Kathryn Elaine Hilman

Kathryn Hilman, December 14, 1959 - March, 13th, 2014. Kathryn was born in North Dakota to Herbert and Dorothy Kannianen. She was the youngest of five. Her education after high school was a Bachelors in Education from NDSU, which she used in teaching kindergarten and as a case manager. After graduating college, she married Brian Bartle and from that marriage came two children: Adam and Lauren. They lived in Minot, North Dakota for the bulk of the children's upbringing. After the dissolution of her first marriage, Kathryn and her children moved to the west coast to Camas, WA. Here Kathryn was known for her skills at entertaining, frequently having dozens of people in the house after church events, for birthdays, and other celebrations. She also maintained a beautiful garden and yard that she took deserved pride in. Another one of her many gifts was to make people feel like family and like her house was truly theirs; it was a rare day when the house didn't have multiple of her "kids" in and out of the door. None of Kathryn's homes were ever known for being quiet or boring. Her house also had the best array of Nerf guns, so pitched battles after meals were frequent. In the years leading up to her illness, Kathryn moved from Camas to Vancouver, WA. She made a life with her many wonderful friends and coworkers. She loved the ocean, going out to family dinners, and visiting her mother and brothers in North Dakota. Holidays were spent at her house or her sister's, surrounded by family, laughter, and love. In February of 2011, she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. It began a fight that touched many people and saw more victories than defeats. Kathryn wore her "Fight like a Girl" cancer awareness bracelet everywhere she went and it's rare to see a gathering of her family and friends where several other identical bracelets aren't also present. In November of 2011, alongside her main squeeze, Don Nixon, and immediate family, she celebrated the marriage of her son Adam to his wonderful wife, Amber. In October of 2013 the family greeted Rosa Lee Bartle, who Kathryn loved with all of her heart. Always deeply involved in her faith and especially music, Kathryn loved singing both at home and in the church choir at her church, Mill Plain United Methodist. She would light up whenever she talked about choir, and always looked forward to the Easter and Christmas songs. The cancer battle ended on March 13th, 2014. Kathryn passed in her sleep and without pain at the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver. Many of who knew Kathryn well commented that it was the most relaxed we had ever seen her. She is survived by her mother, Dorothy of Belden, ND. Sister Kristie & husband Dave of Winlock, WA. Brothers Carl & wife Shell, Danny & wife Bea of Stanley, ND and Jim & wife Pam of Denver, CO. Main Squeeze, Don Nixon of Friday Harbor, WA. Her multiple "adopted" children, including Don's son, Ian of Seattle, WA. Daughter Lauren of Portland, OR. Son Adam & wife Amber of Vancouver, WA. Grandchildren, Rosa and Nathan. She will be dearly missed and live on through the lives of those she touched. There is a service at 2:30p.m. in Vancouver, Washington at the Mill Plain United Methodist church and her ashes will be buried in Belden, North Dakota at the Belden Finnish Cemetery on March 23rd.

Kathryn Elaine Hilman

December 14, 1959 - March 13, 2014