Arlene Hull

1961 - 2023

Arlene Hull

January 16, 1961 - September 16, 2023

Boise, Idaho - Arlene Cecile Hull died peacefully at home in Boise, Idaho, on September 16 after a 10-month journey with pancreatic cancer. Our beloved mother, daughter, sister, and friend was 62 years young.

Born January 16,1961 in Dillon, Montana, Arlene was the third of six children of Yvonne and Frank Hull. She grew up camping and fishing with her grandparents, siblings, and friends. She enjoyed and excelled at teaching, so as a teen she worked as a ski and swim instructor. She loved a challenge and found joy in athletics, especially team sports. She carried her love of the great outdoors and the bond with close childhood friends her entire life.

Arlene graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1979. A bright student and hard worker, she put herself through college working multiple jobs, including waiting tables. She remembered fondly all the friends and family who went out of their way to support her in those tough, formative years. She earned her bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education from Montana State University, and a master's in Exercise Physiology from the University of Wyoming.

Arlene welcomed a daughter, Megan, in 1991, and a son, Eric, in 1994, while living in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Arlene considered her children to be her greatest joy. She shared her love of the outdoors and athletics with her kids, giving them many lifetime sports including biking, hiking, camping, and skiing. The family moved back to Dillon in 1995, which allowed Arlene to help care for her Grandma Leonne and provided her kids with the opportunity to grow up close to their grandparents too. Arlene was a fantastic mother, her kids' strongest advocate and a true fan of their dearest interests.

Arlene's impressive professional career began with teaching physical education in rural Montana public schools. After her masters and becoming a Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist, she worked in cardiac rehab at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. While teaching at the University of Montana-Western in Dillon, Arlene saw a need in her community for rural cardiac rehab and succeeded in developing the first rural cardiac rehab program in the area - which still serves patients to this day. In 2004, the family moved to Caldwell, Idaho, where Arlene returned to her love of teaching in public education in the Vallivue School District. In 2012, Arlene joined the team at Healthwise in Boise as a medical content specialist and quickly became a leader and mentor. During her 10-year career there, she was recognized with many awards and made many lifelong friends, a common theme in every stage of her life. Arlene brought joy, laughter, fun, and a reminder to keep things in perspective to all those around her.

Arlene fostered a passion for service to her community, especially in education, social justice, and well-being of women and children, after surviving an abusive marriage herself. Arlene was a Women's and Children's Alliance Ambassador, a tutor for the Learning Lab, and a Big Sister for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She was always learning, sharing, and empowering others.

Arlene will be dearly missed by countless friends and family, and her memory will live on forever in our hearts. She is survived by her mother, Yvonne Hull; daughter, Megan Simenc (husband, Tom Simenc); son, Eric Hull (partner, Sierra Starkey); sisters, Jeanette Hood and Joyce Tonner (partner, Diane Bialek); and brothers Vince Hull (wife, Anne Hull) and David Hull (fiance, Julie Shumaker).

A private celebration will be held in Boise for local family and friends. Arlene's Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 14, in her hometown of Dillon, Montana, at Mac's Last Cast Bar and Grill, 26 Montana Street, from 1pm to 4pm.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, Arlene asked that you consider donating to her scholarship for the nursing program at Boise State University (boisestate.edu/giving/donate/hull-family), or to her favorite charities: The Women's and Childrens' Alliance (wcaboise.org/give-support) and Learning Lab (learninglabinc.org/get-involved).