Lila Darlene Hall 1929 - 2024

HALL, KELSEY, CHAMPION

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/15/2024 at 20:26:04

Sioux City Journal
18 May 2024

Lila Hall

Lila Darlene Hall was born on December 28, 1929 in Woodbury County near Smithland, Iowa. She was the youngest of Otis Vincent and Mabel Alice (Kelsey) Hall's four children, and was raised with her siblings in the loving Christian home of her Hall grandparents after her mother's illness and death in December 1930. She received her education in Smithland, graduating from Smithland High School on May 13, 1948.

In the fall of 1951, Lila met Gene Champion while both were working at Suiter and Company, a hatchery in Mapleton, Iowa. They were united in marriage on March 14, 1953 at the Methodist Church in Smithland. They moved to Denison, Iowa after their marriage, and lived there for 62 years. Their union was blessed with two children, Alice and Craig. Lila worked for J.C. Penney Company in Denison for over 25 years, retiring in 1992. Lila and Gene celebrated their 65th anniversary in March 2018.

Lila was a member of Denison's First United Methodist Church for over 60 years, and served there as a Sunday School teacher (5 years), communion steward (20 years), greeter, and nursery attendant. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 33 years, serving that organization as president and Girls' State chairman. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout co-leader for five years in the 1960s. Lila enjoyed walking and working on wood refinishing projects.

Lila passed away on May 9, 2024 at Hillcrest Mable Rose in Bellevue, Nebraska.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; sister, Charlotte; brothers, Eddie and Ray; and her son-in-law, Roger O'Connor.

Those who remain to cherish her memory include her daughter, Alice O'Connor of Papillion, Nebraska; son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Sharon (Meyer) Champion of Lincoln, Nebraska; granddaughter Katie and Husband Clint Williams of Huffman, Texas; grandsons, Andrew and wife Lisa (Nevin) O'Connor of Lakewood, Colorado, Brent Champion of Shawnee, Kansas, Brandon and wife Laura (Christiansen) Champion of Gretna, Nebraska; great-grandsons, Coltin Williams, Brayden Champion, and Kade O'Connor; great-granddaughters, Kailey Champion and Mabel O'Connor; six nieces; three nephews; and many relatives and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, May 29th at 10:30am at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Papillion, Nebraska.