Billie Aaron Hickman Jr. Obituary (1933 - 2020)

Our beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather, Billie "Bill" Aaron Hickman Jr., 87, passed away peacefully Monday August 17, 2020 surrounded by his wife, children and sister. He was born May 18, 1933 in Tucson, Arizona, to Billie and May Hickman. He was the oldest of four children. After graduating from high school, he enlisted with the Air Force where he was stationed at Kirtland AFB, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While at Kirtland, Bill studied dentistry and played on the baseball team before enlisting with the National Guard of Arizona. He was honorably discharged from his service to our country in 1952. On July 15, 1971, Bill married his sweetheart, Arla Dickerson, for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple. They lived in California before settling in Provo, Utah and together raised three girls and three boys. Bill worked for the Pacific Bell phone company before taking an early retirement to join the ownership of Blue Ridge Construction Company. He later obtained his real estate broker's license and started a property management company with his wife, Arla. Their commitment to their clients kept them busy into their 80's. Bill was passionate with his time for others, traveling to remote corners of the world including Paraguay, Uruguay, Vietnam, Cambodia, Chile, and the Dominican Republic to provide humanitarian dental care with AYUDA. He took great pride utilizing his military dental skills to help those less-fortunate. He was happiest when helping others or just tinkering around. He loved to fix things and had a knack for finding a solution to almost every needed repair in the house or car. He found purpose in his family history work and enjoyed spending time at Lake Powell in the summers, boating, swimming and having simple fun. In the last few years, his greatest hobby was shooting trap with his grandsons and best pals, even loading his own shells. He was always grateful for family, neighbors and loving friends. We thank you all for enriching his life and we are all better people because he was in our lives. His children are grateful for all that he sacrificed to be an amazing and loving father. Those who knew him best will always remember the moments he took to teach us how to fix something, shoot a gun or listen to him talk about how much he loved his wife. He will be missed every day. As a family we are eternally blessed to have a faithful, loving patriarch to set a stalwart example of following the Lord and relying on his Atonement. He was a devoted and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints his entire life. He loved serving his Savior and church valiantly in every calling. He worked with the youth and served as a member of several bishoprics including with the young single adults. His most cherished calling, beyond that of husband and father, was serving as a temple worker. He truly loved being in the temple and cherished not only his time there but also the precious friendships. He is survived by his wife Arla Hickman, his five children Drake Hickman, Tammy Hickman, Holly (Rob) Thomas, Billie (Rachel) Hickman and Colette Hickman-Evans, his brother Ray Hickman and sister Deon Jensen. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and his loyal dog, Happy. He is preceded in death by his parents, Billie and May Hickman, his sister Sydney Hardy, his son Bradley Hickman and three infant sons, as well as two dogs, Pierre and Curly. A public evening viewing will be held Friday, August 21, 2020 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove followed by a private family viewing. Due to Covid-19 restrictions masks and social distancing are recommended. Graveside services will be held Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.