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Lucille E. 'Lucy' Hilpert (ne) Cox Butte, MY QCWA # 15284 Chapter 104 |
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Lucille Eva Hilpert, 81, died Saturday morning. She was born Lucille Eva Cox at home in Clarion, Pa. on Aug. 2, 1925, to John and Eva (Weigel) Cox. Lucille had an older brother, Jacob W. Cox and an older sister Elisabeth M. Cox, both deceased.
Lucille attended grade school and high school in Clarion and graduated valedictorian of her high school class of 1943. She was a virtuoso flutist and studied for many years under Mr. Soudic, principal flutist of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Lucille then entered as a freshman at the Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pa. Lucille graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. She played as first flutist in the Penn State Blue Band and Symphony Orchestra. Lucille worked several years as a chemist but when her children arrived, she devoted her life to being a perfect mother, wife and homemaker.
While playing in the orchestra, she met Conrad R. Hilton, also a flutist, and on Mother's Day, May 9, 1948, she accepted Conrad's proposal of marriage just before she attended the Penn State Symphony Orchestra afternoon concert during which Conrad performed "Doppler's Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy" accompanied by the symphony. Conrad was completing his Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering and they were married on Oct. 16, 1948. As Lucy said it, "We go on making beautiful music together." They both played in various concert bands and symphony orchestras as Conrad's occupation moved the family. Both have played for more than 20 years in the Montana Tech Pep Band.
Lucille and Conrad have had many years of mutual hobbies, both are avid photographers, mainly of a mutual hobby, railroads, each have ridden their motorcycles nearly 200,000 miles up the Alcan Highway, 3 times all over the United States, over Germany, Austria and Holland and each successfully passed the BMW high speed motorcycle riding course on the Nurburging Race Track in Germany. Both Lucille and Conrad are Radio Amateurs, Lucy "Armature Extra Class" (the highest level) and Conrad only a "General Class." Lucy and Conrad also have enjoyed handgun and rifle target shooting and reloading and have been member of the Butte Gun Club since Aug. 19, 1982.
Lucy was also athletic: she played varsity basketball at Clarion High School and up until she took fatally ill, she played tennis 3 times a week, swam and played racquetball. Lucy was riding her younger son's unicycle up and down and around the block on her 60th birthday. Lucy also loved her African violets, cacti and flowers of all types. As a housewife, mother and homemaker, Lucy saw to it that her two sons obtained their master's degrees in engineering and her daughter a bachelor's degree in geology. Lucy was a great cook; her family always looked forward to eating at home. The best turkey they ever ate Lucy cooked.
She is survived by her husband, Conrad, Butte; sons and daughters-in-law, Fredrich and Connie Hilpert, Greensboro, N.C.; Quentin Hilpert and Connie Waddell, York, Ariz.; daughter and son-in-law, Lynne and Lance Duncan, Eagle River, Alaska; 4 granddaughters and 2 grandsons.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be conducted at a time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Montana Pep Band, c/o Dr. Peter Knudsen at Montana Tech.
Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits.
Published in The Montana Standard on 11/26/2006.
John, Conrad and Lucy