Lt. Col. Hal W. USAF Ret. MORRILL Obituary

Delores M.

Apr 28, 1928 - Feb 13, 2026

Lt. Col. Hal W. USAF Ret.

Jun 16, 1928 - Feb 14, 2019

Hal Morrill and Delores Stromme married on August 5, 1950, in Spokane, Washington. Theirs was a marriage filled with admiration and love spanning a full 68 years. They both happily claimed they had been fortunate enough to marry their best friend. Hal and Del's love story is survived by their daughters, Sandra and Mary Katherine (Marty); grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob, Jenna, Denise, and Ben; great-grandchildren, Max, Milo, Brooklyn, Brady, and Brogan; nieces, Suzanne, Chris, Lori, and Cheryl (Pat); and nephew, Brian.

Delores May Morrill (Stromme) passed peacefully at the age of 97 on February 13, 2026. Del's service will be held at Noon in the Sunset Chapel at Fairmont Memorial Park, Spokane, Washington, on Saturday, the 4th of April, 2026. Interment to follow service.

Born April 28, 1928, to Ruth (Thompson) and Amos Stromme in Spokane, Washington, Delores attended Francis Willard Elementary, graduating from North Central High School in 1946. A third-generation Washingtonian, she and her sister, Joanne, were surrounded by a large extended family living in and around Spokane. During her childhood, family was central to her values, and she strove to maintain close relationships with them all. This was a time for Spokane of a great depression and world war, films at the Fox and Garland theaters, ice skating at a frozen Franklin Park, cable cars, dances at the Davenport Hotel, and big bands playing at Natatorium Park. Before her marriage, she worked as a bookkeeper at The Crescent Department Store, acquiring skills that would serve her well throughout her entire life. She rode the cable car to and from work each day. Her father was often at the trolley stop to walk with her the remaining way home.

At the urging of their mothers, Delores was encouraged to write to her high school friend, Hal Morrill, now far from home in Texas, attending flight school. Hal promptly responded, and their long-distance courtship soon began. He would fly from Texas to Spokane to visit his parents and Delores on the weekends whenever possible. Hal's career took the pair and their two daughters to California, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Minnesota, where Delores volunteered wherever they landed.

On a 1960 trip to Spokane, Hal flew a small plane north, looking for land to buy where they could eventually build a retirement home. He found it on the Little Spokane River, and they purchased it, encouraging his sister and brother-in-law serving in the USAF to do the same. It took them 23 years before retirement brought them back to live in Spokane, where they enjoyed more than 30 years living along the Little Spokane River with family next door. It was their sanctuary to return to after traveling across the country in their RV each fall and winter.

From an early age, Delores loved reading, walking, bird watching, gardening, and wildflowers, all of which became lifelong interests. An excellent seamstress and cross-stitcher, she has left behind many beautiful pieces for her family to enjoy. She was a member of the Little Spokane Garden Club, enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her daughters and grandchildren. She was known for her loving spirit, kindness, grace, sharp mind, grounding presence, and contagious positivity.

Lt. Col. Hal Morrill USAF Ret. passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on February 14, 2019. Hal's memorial service was attended by family members on June 16, 2019, which would have been his 91st birthday. He received full military honors at Fairmont Memorial Cemetery. He was remembered by friends and family as an astounding pilot, a true American patriot, fly fisherman, golfer, and for his sense of humor, commitment, and loyalty to the people he loved.

A fourth-generation Washingtonian, Hal was born on June 16, 1928, in Spokane, Washington, to Mabel (Knorre) and Harold Morrill. His parents took him camping with his older sister, Patricia, when he was just months old. His parents' love of the outdoors and his father's love of fly fishing would extend to him during his lifetime. He attended Finch Grade School and was earning money doing yard work, odd jobs, and snow shoveling by his pre-teens. He became an Eagle Scout at age 15 and graduated from North Central High School in 1946. Hal attended WSU for two years, studying engineering and joining the ATO fraternity, where he shoveled coal in the furnace to help pay for his room and board. He worked other jobs to help pay his tuition. He was thinking he could use a change when he found it on campus in the form of an Army Air Force recruiter at a card table on the mall, asking if he would like to learn to fly. He was soon beginning his aviation career in pilot training at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas, realizing a childhood dream of becoming a pilot.

Hal had a very successful and unique career in aviation spanning nearly 30 years, including both the Korean and Vietnam War periods. After leaving active duty in the U.S. Air Force (USAF), he flew for Northwest Airlines. Returning to Spokane with his young family, he joined the Washington Air National Guard, where he became one of the "Machbuster" pilots in 1954 to exceed the speed of sound in an F-86 Sabre Jet. In 1956, he accepted a position with the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) in Van Nuys, California, later becoming the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). After arriving in Van Nuys, he joined the California Air National Guard, exchanging jets for transports and the squadron commander position. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was called back again to full-time active duty for 1 year. At the time of his retirement in 1983, he was the Chief of the General District Office in Seattle, Washington. During his career, he became proficient in flying jets and propeller aircraft of all sizes, transport, helicopters, and gliders.

He spent his retirement years fly fishing, golfing, and enjoying family and friends on the river. His love of golf as a youth would continue throughout his life. A member of the Spokane Country Club, he spent much of his senior years there. While traveling in their RVs, he always had his fishing poles and golf clubs at the ready. From frames for Del's stitching projects to a large grandfather clock, he worked in his home workshop on projects big and small. Although he liked to keep busy, he valued his time sitting on his deck overlooking the river, enjoying the hummingbirds, quail, ducks, geese, river otters, beaver, deer, moose, and other wildlife that he would see. He researched his family history from its arrival in America in 1632 to the present, creating a historical record for his descendants. He loved this country and, with Delores by his side, he traveled it all in their motorhome - north to south, east to west, from sea to shining sea.