Betty Arlene Vallentine Turner Hill

Betty Arlene Valentine Turner Hill passed away March 16, 2025. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida on January 29, 1927. The fifth of seven children born to Carrie Della Tucker and John Thomas Valentine. She loved her family dearly. Garnetta, Clara, Vella, Lois, Iris and especially her beloved brother John Thomas Valentine Jr. They were always her best friends. Uncle Johnny always told the story of the day they were walking home from school when some bigger boys started beating up on him. Mama pulled off her wooden shoes and beat them over the head until they ran away.

She was very proud to be a 4th generation member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1944 at 17 years old, she served a 6-month mission in the Southern States. She was crushed when one of the older missionaries told her she couldn’t wear red on her mission. She did love color!

Throughout her life, the gospel was a driving force for her and the center of life. It was at a church dance that she met her first husband, Donald Gail Turner, who told his friend when he saw her walk down the stairs for the first time, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry!”

They met in April and married August 21, 1945, traveling to the Salt Lake City temple to be sealed for eternity on August 29th. After the war, they settled in Preston, Idaho where they had 6 children - Pam, Don, David, Terry, John and ME! They loved being parents and being very involved in church and community activities. Mama LOVED to dance, so they danced nearly every week.

In May 1961, Gail passed away. Mama relocated us from Preston to Palatka, Florida. Raising 6 kids on her own, she needed the support of her family, and we enjoyed time with our cousins. Mother went to college and began working full time as an accountant at the Palatka Housing Authority. She was very successful and retired after 30 years. We had so much fun as Mama and all of us grew up together. Playing scare after dark-Mama would walk thru the house quietly turning off lights and we would scatter as she followed the giggles to find us all. Spending weeks at the beach, flying kites and playing in the sand were typical activities. She read constantly and in doing so, instilled a love of books and reading in each of us. When we got into arguments, she would sing the hymn “Let us oft Speak Kind Words to Each Other”, getting louder and louder until we finally gave up. My favorite memories of my childhood are of her dancing through the house with her finger wagging in the air, giggling with mischief.

She lost her son, David, in 1972, while he was serving as a missionary in Paris, France. While heartbroken, she always demonstrated faith and strength that taught us how to handle trials and difficulties with grace. She is the strongest woman I have ever known.

On April 1, 1980, Betty married James Edward Hill and gained 2 more sons, James and Joel, and we gained a sweet father. She did a great job picking men! They moved to Orange Park, Florida where they enjoyed a beautiful, fun, active life for nearly 30 years until James passed away in 2009, and she again became a widow.

The church continued to dominate her life. She served in many church positions during her lifetime, including matron of the Atlanta Georgia temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 – 1998 with her husband James as president. She cherished her strong testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ.

While there are many relatives and loving friends who blessed her life, Addie Newton and Lou Cotton have been her dearest friends and greatest allies for years. We are so thankful that we were able to witness their amazing sisterhood!

She was preceded in death by her parents, spouses Donald Gail Turner and James E. Hill, sons David Lee Turner and Joel Hill, daughter, Pamela Gay Turner, 5 sisters, Garnetta, Vella, Clara, Lois, Iris and 1 brother John T. Valentine Jr.

She is survived by her sons, Donald Gail (Sherry) Turner, Terry Lynn (Laura) Turner, John William (Julie) Turner, James E Hill Jr. (Charlie) and daughter Becky Arlene (Mark) Johnson. Her 13 Grand Children, Julie Kirkland, Gina Simms, Lindsay (Jonathan) Nuesca, Erin Johnson, Ryan (Brianne) Johnson, Katelyn (Juan Diego) De La Cruz, Zera (Ryan) Arvay, David (Jacquelyn) Turner, Journey (Josh) Downs, Tiffany Stephenson, Brianne Wright, Joshua (Taylor) Turner, Nathan (Kelly) Turner and 22 Great Grand Children, Isaac, Jonah, and Asher Nuesca, Shepherd and Copeland De La Cruz, Parks Johnson, Alyssa, Leslie, and Tyler Simms, Aria and Cosette Wright, Skye and Shea Stephenson, Duncan, Maren, Lindy and Calvin Arvay, Kate, Clark and Lucy Turner, Theodore and Bowen Downs.

Funeral services will be March 20, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2021 Redwine Road, Fayetteville, GA. Visitation and viewing will be held at the church at 10:00 am with funeral services following at 11:00 am.

There will be a service on Monday, March 30 at 2:00 pm at Webb Funeral Home in Preston, Idaho. A viewing will be held from 1:00-1:45 pm followed by interment at the Preston, Idaho cemetery.

The family expresses their love and appreciation for all the kindnesses rendered during this time.

Services will be available to stream live on Monday, March 30 2026 at 2:00 p.m. MDT by clicking the following link:

https://youtube.com/live/arLrCCLL334?feature=share