December 1, 1918 – June 24, 2022
Where to begin? 103 1/2 years is a long time and we just scratched the surface! Please don’ t be offended if you were not mentioned. It is impossible to fit all the memories, people, and details into an obituary. Just know in your heart that you were important to Alma.
Alma Lois Hill was born on December 1, 1918, on a farm south of Glen Elder, Kansas. She was the third of five children born to Homer and Florence (Marzolf) Hill. Her siblings were Evelyn, Orville, Lola and Thelma.
Alma attended school in a rural one-room schoolhouse for her primary schooling. She always described it as being just like the “ Little Red Schoolhouse” that you can tour at Knott’ s Berry Farm. It was a neighboring school that was originally located in nearby Beloit, Kansas. Alma loved to go there to see the names of the children that she had grown up with in that schoolhouse. She later attended and graduated from Glen Elder High School.
Two years after graduating High School, Alma was married to Rainus Stewart in May of 1938. Together, they had one daughter, Joan LaVon Stewart, born in April of 1945. They divorced in October of 1947.
During WWII, Alma worked for Boeing Air Craft, in Colorado, on the assembly line. She was one of many women known for being a “ Rosie the Riveter” . After leaving Boeing, she worked at the Co-op Grocery Store in Glen Elder.
Alma became engaged to Walter Howell after being introduced by her sister, Lola, who was married to Walter’ s cousin, Orval. In January of 1952, Alma and Joan moved to Whittier, California, to start a new life with Walter. They were married on June 8, 1952, blending their two families which included Walter’ s sons, Brian “ Flip” and Lance “ Lonnie” Friesz who were very close to Joan’ s age. Walter legally adopted Joan as his daughter, on December 15, 1956.
Marrying Walter not only extended Alma’ s family with step-sons, but also with in-laws including Walter’ s parents Jay and Edith Howell, sister, Mary and her husband Dale Nichols and their children Larry and later, Cindy.
After moving to Whittier, Alma worked for a while at Rose Hills Cemetery, in the Administration Office. She then went on to work at the Shopping Bag Market at the Quad in Whittier, which later became Vons Market.
Alma worked at Vons until 1968 when she and Walter bought a Postal Instant Press (PIP Printing) franchise. They, along with Joan and her husband, Chris, are considered pioneers of the quick printing business as they were one of three families to purchase this new kind of franchise in 1967. When they opened, Alma worked the front counter while Joan ran the printing press.
Alma became a grandma with the birth of Joan’ s two children, Brian and Kathryn. She loved picking the grandkids up after school and having them over to spend the night. After retiring from PIP, Alma volunteered for “ Meals on Wheels” and joined the Whittier Emblem Club (the women’ s version of the Elks Lodge). She also spent time taking care of an office building that she and Walter had bought, in La Habra.
One of her favorite things to do was to celebrate the birthdays of the employees that worked at the various PIP locations they owned. You always knew it was somebody’ s birthday when Alma would show up at the shop with her red plaid basket and a cake!
Alma and Walter loved to travel, especially driving across the country to see various sites on their way to visit family in Kansas or go to one of the many conventions put on by PIP, sometimes with Brian and Kathryn along for the ride. In addition to many driving trips, they enjoyed going on cruises to places like Mexico, Alaska and the Panama Canal.
Hosting family gettogethers was at the top of Alma’ s list of joys. She loved gathering kids, grandkids, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends at their home to celebrate every holiday and as many birthdays as possible. It was always a big to-do and a full house which, in the early 80’ s, included Alma, Walter, Joan, Chris, Brian and Kathryn, Mary, Dale, Larry, Cindy, Steve, Amy and Kelly, Lance, Linda, Lancer and Taylor. And it didn’ t stop there! As the family grew, so did the number of chairs at the table. Everyone was always welcome, considered family, and nobody would ever be turned away. Alma’ s goal was always to get everyone at one table...or at least try to.
Alma was famous for some of the holiday dishes she would make such as homemade macaroni and cheese, deviled eggs, chocolate angel icebox cake, sauerkraut and lentils, and cranberry relish. Kathryn has kept her legacy in the kitchen going by taking over most of these family favorites (except the sauerkraut and lentils...that one is all Joan’ s)!
In June, 1991, Alma became a great-grandma for the first time, to Kathryn’ s daughter, Haley. Three years later came Christian and Hannah, followed by Jonathan, and then Aaron.
Alma spent much of her time caring for Walter throughout the 90’ s, until he passed away in September of 1998. Following his death, she continued to tend to the house, the buildings and would travel back to Kansas to visit her sisters and brother as often as she could.
In 2002, Alma decided that the big house was too much for her to handle by herself, so she sold it to Joan and Kathryn and bought herself a 2 bedroom condo at La Mirada Landmark, an active adult community for 55 and over. Even at 83 years old, Alma was the poster child for “ active adults” .
On November 30, 2008, one day before her 90th birthday, Alma was baptized into the family of God at Christ Lutheran Church in Brea. She was the talk of the church as the oldest “ child” to be baptized there...ever! There wasn’ t a dry eye in the church when the pastor asked, “ Alma, are you ready to be baptized?” She replied in a very strong voice, “ YES I AM!”
In May of 2017, Alma fell and broke her wrist (first broken bone at age 98!). Joan decided to stay with her at that time because she was having difficulty using her walker with her wrist in a cast. After being there for a time, it was decided that Joan should move in with her on a permanent basis out of concern for Alma’ s safety.
Alma loved having Joan share a home with her and the two got along pretty well...most of the time. She continued to thrive on celebrating family birthdays, insisting on “ treating” the entire group, no matter how much it was protested.
On December 1, 2018, the family got to pay her back a little for all the years of birthday treats and celebrations, by throwing Alma a 100th birthday party fit for a queen (sash and crown included)! Many friends and family came from near and far to celebrate this special lady, including her baby sister and only living sibling, Thelma.
The last 3 1/2 years were mainly spent at home, thanks to COVID. Her last outings included bridal gown shopping for Haley as well as her bridal shower and finally, the “ Mainland Reception” for Haley and Robert’ s wedding, just 13 days before she went home to Jesus.
Alma was preceded in death by her parents Homer and Florence, siblings Evelyn, Orville and Lola, husband Walter and son-in-law Chris Ilten. She is survived by...
Sister, Thelma O’ Harro; Daughter, Joan Ilten; Grandson, Brian Ilten (Susan); Granddaughter, Kathryn Ilten-Holmes (Jerry); Great-Granddaughters, Haley Keysers (Robert),; Hannah Hentcy (fiancé Dakota Garske); Great-Grandsons, Christian Ilten (Sara), Jonathan Ilten (Melyssa), Aaron Ilten, Donald Holmes (Rachelle), Nick Holmes (fiancée Cindy Freedman) Jacob Keller-Holmes (Kevin); Great-Great Grandchildren, Gavin Holmes, Gracie Holmes, Noah Ilten Alma is also survived by… Walter’ s Sons, Brian “ Flip” Friesz (Sue), Lance “ Lonnie” Friesz (Linda) Grandchildren, Brian Friesz (Rachel) and family, Laura Huff (Joel) and family, Lance Friesz Jr. (Samantha) and family, Taylor Friesz (fiancé Corey Wright) and family, as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
