Hila Lee McKasson

Hila McKasson died at home on August 17, 2024. She was the widow of Alex McKasson who died in December, 1999, and had lived in St. George since 1993.

Hila was born June 6, 1923 to Robert Silas and Edith Annie Koken in the farming community of Ruskin, Nebraska, the youngest of six children. Farm life was quite a struggle in the Midwest in the 1930's because of the Great Depression and the drought of several years. The farm belonged to Edith's father, so they were not forced off due to unpaid taxes as some farm families were. Hila graduated from Ruskin High School in 1940, married Harold Jenkins, and moved to Tracy, California. That marriage ended in divorce.

During World War II, she was employed by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Division at Tracy, California, and later by the Housing Authority of the County of San Joaquin, remaining at the Housing Authority for a career of 37 years, retiring in 1985. She worked in various administrative capacities there, the final one being finance officer.

In 1958, she married Alex McKasson, a Southern Pacific Co. Railroad Engineer. and they made their home in Stockton, California until moving to St. George in 1993. She most liked flower gardening and landscaping at her home and took an active part in church activities at Stockton Covenant Church where they were members, and later at St. George Community Church, serving as church treasurer at both for a number of years. Both Alex and Hila liked photography and took many color slides to remember the trips they took to Mexico, Canada and northern Europe.

Hila was preceded in death by her husband Alex, her sister Marian Oeltjen of Redondo Beach, CA, her brother Ray Koken of Omaha, NE, her brother Gene Koken of Lakewood, CA, her sister Nellie Kohl of Superior, NE and her brother Robert Koken of Lancaster, CA.

Memorial services will be held September 20, at 11:00 a.m. at Westside Baptist Church located at 2299 W. 2000 N., followed by a lunch for those attending at the church social hall. A graveside service will be held later at the Tracy Public Cemetery at Tracy, California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Alzheimer's Association, 855 E. 4800 South, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, UT 84107.