Karolyn "Kay" (Jones) Sill

Karolyn Kay Sill, "Kay", 79, of Bennington, Nebraska, passed away on January 12, 2023, at Lakeside Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska from complications due to a continued illness.  Kay was with her immediate family at the time of her death.

Kay was born April 14, 1943, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to James H. Jones and Klea McKinley Jones.  She was the second born child of 3 from the marriage and second of 5 total siblings.

Kay attended school in Salmon, Idaho, and graduated from high school in 1961. After graduation from high school, the family moved to Dillon, Montana, where she initially had several jobs such as waitress and secretary. It was in Dillon where she would meet her life partner, Ernest "Ernie" Paul Sill. They were married in Dillon on June 30, 1962.

Ernie worked for the Montana State Highway Department at the time they married and was soon transferred to Butte, Montana.

Ernie and Kay adopted 2 children while living in Butte, Audra Ann Sill (Magier) in April of 1966, and Shawn Michael Sill in April of 1969. In November 1969, Ernie and Kay decided to go into the restaurant and bar business with Ernie's parents, Herb and Beulah Sill, and moved the family to Dubois, Idaho. They owned the Legion Bar and Café from 1969 until they sold the business in 1986.

After selling their bar and restaurant, Ernie and Kay took over the ownership of the Crossroads Motel from Ernie's parents, allowing them to fully retire. Ernie at the time was working for the Mudlake Telephone Company so the overall operation of the motel fell to Kay.

Kay was active in the Dubois community volunteering in the 4-H Club, the Dubois Lions Club and Clark County High School activities. Kay taught 1st year sewing for the 4-H Club to the youth in Dubois for 28 years where she garnered many awards for her work with the 4-H.

Like Ernie, Kay was an integral part of the Dubois Lions and Lioness Clubs. She served in multiple leadership positions while in the both the Lioness and Lions Club. As like the 4-H, the Lion's Club honored her with many awards for her dedication and commitment to the service of the community.

Kay continued to serve the community through the Clark County School district.  She was a substitute teacher at the school, spanning almost 3 decades. Cheerleading and drill team were just a couple of her passions, and she served as the adult advisor for the drill team for many years. She supported all the sports teams and always tried to attend every game. Ernie and Kay were named honorary fans and had reserved seats for all home games at the high school.

Ernie and Kay closed the motel, placed it up for sale, and fully retired in August 2010 and moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, to be closer to family.

Kay is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Sill of Bellevue, brother James Jones of Everett, Washington, and her parents Klea Hurst and James Jones. She is survived by two sisters, Karen Brown of Dillon, Montana and Jan Boehm of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, one brother Lee Hurst (Cae) of Helena, Montana, daughter Audra Ann Magier of Allentown, Pennsylvania, son Shawn Sill (Mitsushi) of Bennington, Nebraska, and granddaughters, Cheyenne Sill of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Sierra Sill of Omaha, Nebraska.

There will be a Celebration of Life on February 15, 2023, at the Dubois Ward, 471 East 2nd South, for both Kay and Ernie, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Final internment will be immediately following at the Dubois Cemetery. All are welcome to attend.

We respectively request no flowers or gifts be given, but donations may be made on behalf of mom and dad to the Arthritis Foundation, https://info.arthritis.org/donate-today/.