Anita Jean Hilton Dahl passed away in the arms of her family Tuesday morning, July 13, at her home in Star, Idaho. She was 78 years young and had fought a courageous battle with cancer, gracefully slipping away in her sleep.
Anita was born on May 1, 1943, in San Francisco, CA, to Irma and Guy Bledsoe and grew up in Walnut Creek, CA, with her three siblings, Jerry, Janae and Dennis. She was a flag twirler in her high school marching band and always cherished her memories of idyllic days at the beach with friends, where she loved to swim, waterski and spend time outside.
Anita was an active member of the LDS Church and met her first husband, Joseph Roy Hilton Jr., at a church dance. She was a stunning beauty, with an artistic flair and quick wit, and Joe wisely snapped her up fast! They got married on January 23, 1965, and moved to Utah where they both attended BYU. Before too long came the first child out of six, and Anita was on the way to her life's calling of World's Best Mother. They moved back to California and then in 1974 settled for good in Boise, ID. She devoted her life to her family and found joy in her children and the many many more grandchildren to come. Anita excelled at her skills as a seamstress, interior design, and home cooking, and created an abode full of love and beauty.
After becoming a widow, Anita fortuitously met Dennis Dahl, and they married on August 20, 2006. The pair loved to explore the great outdoors in their RV, ride bikes and 4wheelers, and host many family BBQs and gatherings. The joy and companionship they found in each other seemed proof of God's great plan.
Anita was a devout lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served as a senior missionary in Florida, and shared her talents in many church callings. Her faith and testimony remained strong as she passed into the arms of her savior. She will be remembered for her ever-lighthearted humor and silliness, for her adventurous and playful spirit, her insistence on scavenger hunts and storytelling, for her strong-armed family volleyball and badminton games, her delicious cooking, her beautiful home and. of course, her all abiding love for her family.
Anita is survived by her adoring husband Dennis Dahl, her five children, Jennifer Callis, Angela Kynaston, Sarah Krahn, Elizabeth Hilton, Nicholas Hilton and his wife Jamie Hilton; 19 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 4 stepchildren, 12 step-grandchildren, and 14 step-great- grandchildren, and her brothers Jerry and Dennis Bledsoe. She will be reunited with her husband Joseph Hilton, her daughter Kristin Callis, her sister Janae Towle, and her mom and dad Guy and Irma Bledsoe.