Dorothy Mae Hilton was born on the family farm near Bangor, SK on February 28, 1941 to George and Johanna (Gibson) Hilton. "Dot", as she was known to family and friends, was the third of the four "Hilton Sisters" and was born the day before her eldest sister's birthday. Her eldest sister wanted something "gift-wrapped" not a new baby sister as her birthday gift! Dot's early years were spent at Glyndwr, a one room prairie school where the four sisters would arrive by horse and buggy or sleigh. High school years were spent in Bredenbury and Saltcoats. Growing up on the farm, everyone contributed to the completion of the daily chores. The girls helped with housework and to tend the garden, picked berries, collected eggs from the chickens and milked the cows. They drove the tractor, hauled the hay and made haystacks. In the winter, they enjoyed skiing and snow shoeing or cleaning off a slough so they could skate. Family and community gatherings including dances and square dancing were an important part of growing up. Each girl had a hobby. Dot was an avid reader and would read anything she could get her hands on including her dad's farming practice journals/resources. After high school, Dot moved to Saskatoon where she completed a secretarial course and during the summer months worked at "Dog and Suds". In the early 1960's, Dot began working for the Canadian Wildlife Services in Saskatoon and in the biology lab at the University of Saskatchewan. Her first marriage to Douglas Sameoto took her to Kingston, ON where she worked at the biology lab at Queen's University. Dot then moved to Dartmouth and later to Halifax. In Nova Scotia she became fondly known as "Sam". She obtained her B.A., B.Ed. and M.Ed. from Dalhousie University. Her teaching career in Halifax City spanned more than 30 years at Richmond, Oxford, Charles A. Beckett and Westmount schools. She was so well-loved by her primary students that they would cry when there was no school on the weekends! She was also, for many years, a driver education instructor. She held various positions with the Nova Scotia Teacher's Union executive and was an active member of the NDP. Volunteering for the jazz festival was something that she enjoyed. Dot loved travelling the world with her many friends and with her partner, Richard Brown but she always loved to return to her family on the prairies. She had a passion for genealogy and spent time researching and communicating with new-found long-lost relatives from around the world. Over the years, she welcomed many university students into her home whom she fondly referred to as her, "Chestnut Babies". She maintained many life-long friendships. Dorothy was loved by everyone that knew her and was a friend to all. Always taking an interest in others, she gave encouragement with her positive words and inviting smile. She was fond of her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and they adored her. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Dorothy passed away on April 19, 2016 at the Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, NS. She is survived by her partner, Richard Brown, Halifax, NS; two sisters, Thelma Hilton Wenc, Olds, AB and Florence Hutchings, Saltcoats, SK and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, two great-great-nieces and two great-great-nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and sister, Norma Thompson; nephew, Conrad Wenc; her three brothers-in-law and four great-nephews. Donations can be made in her memory to the Canadian Cancer Society, or the Palliative Care Unit, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, NS. Following Dorothy's wishes, she was cremated. Celebrations of her life were held on Saturday, June 4, 2016 from 2-6 pm at the University Club, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS and will be held at the Saltcoats Community Cemetery, Saltcoats, SK on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
