Billi Dixon Mildon S. Herrmann

1926 ~ 2019

Billi Dixon Mildon S. Herrmann, amazing mom, hippie grandma, fun-loving and loyal friend, and advocate to all living things, reluctantly passed away Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 in Springville, Utah. She came into this world 92 yrs. and 11 mo. ago in Glendale CA. The day was March 4, 1926. We\re pretty sure she \"hit the ground running\"! Her commitment and determination to keep her motto, \"LIVE WITH PASSION\", never faded. It must have requiredsome very \"buff\" angels to take her back home!

Billi\s parents were Vera Nobles and Ira LeGrande Dixon. She had four brothers, James Dixon, Wally Dixon, Dick Dixon, and Chip Stone. Her parents and brothers all preceded her in death.

Billi spent her childhood days in California and Texas. Some of her earlysummers were spent as a migrant worker, following the fruit crop picking opportunities during the depression. Billi loved the school months when she could enjoy classroom learning, association with beloved friends, playing her clarinet, and participating in plays. She was also introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during those years. She, along with some other family members, joined the church.

She graduated from Brackenridge High School, San Antonio, TX., in 1943 during WWII. She immediately left home and boarded at Santa Rosa School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX on a full scholarship. She graduated with her RN in 1946 when she was just 19. Because of her experience with polio in TX, Billi was asked to move to SLC, UT immediately to help with the polio epidemic here. Upon her arrival in the summer of 1946 she was quickly put in charge of the polio unit. Billi worked in nursing in various places for 40 years.

In early Sept., 1946, during her 1st year in UT, Billi met and fell in love with a returning soldier, John M. Mildon. WWII had just ended. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple in Oct., 1946. They had three children, Don K. Mildon (Denise-deceased), Kerry R. Mildon (Lori), and Jackie Colton (Boyd). (Her two sons contracted polio during the epidemic, but both survived). Billi and John later divorced.

Billi, with her children, moved to Richfield, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis) in March of 1961. What seemed like 10 ft. high snow piles in front of their new home were quite a shock. Her sons finished their schooling, married and raised their families in MN. Her daughter moved back to UT for college and married and raised her family here. Billi claims 15 grandchildren, as well as their wonderful spouses. She is called \"Grandma-the-Great\" or \"GGB\" by 36 great grandchildren. She has two great-great grandsons.

Billi married Donald F. Herrmann in 1978. He was an elementary school teacher. They lived in Utah during the school year and worked in the National Parks during the summers. They dearly loved Zions, Bryce Canyon, and especially the Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole area. The beautiful scenery and wildlife kept their hearts pounding. Don passed away in 1990.

Billi\s unending love for the desert and her wanderlust nature eventually took her to St. George, UT. for her later years. It was there she met and enjoyed life with the many dear friends. Her health drastically changed in 2010 after open-heart surgery and a stroke on the operating table. She came to live in Mapleton, UT with her daughter...and then, eventually needed long term care in skilled nursing homes.

Billi and her family wish to thank every single member of the caring staffs at Provo Rehab and Nursing and especially Stonehenge of Springville where she experienced her final earthly adventures. She loved joking with you all, responding with her one-liner \"come-backs\", raising her eyebrows to communicate, sharing stories (some real...some \"made up\" in her cute mind), and slurping down mounds of chocolate pudding you so generously piled high with whipping cream! Thank-you for retaining her dignity during the tough moments. Thank-you mostly for just loving her and allowing her, and her daughter, Jackie, to deeply love each of you.

A \"Celebration of Billi\s Life\" will be held on Friday, Feb. 15, at 1:00 pm at The Chateau at The Rose Shop, 1910 E. Dimple Dell Rd., (10600 S.), Sandy. Friends and family may visit the family prior to the celebration from 12:00 to 12:45 pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Rd., (10600 S.), Sandy. Interment will follow at the connected cemetery of Larkin Sunset Gardens.