Darwin Hillberry

Private Family Service

A private, graveside gathering of family on January 31, 2026 followed by a memorial service for family and friends at the Elks Lodge in Riverton at 3:00 pm with dinner to follow.

Darwin Hillberry, age 91, passed away on January 16, 2026 in Riverton, Wyoming at the Help for Health Hospice Home after dealing with several health problems over the last year.

Darwin was born in Worland, Wyoming on June 19, 1934 to Phil and Georgie Renner Hillberry. The family moved to Riverton around 1937. He attended Riverton schools and graduated from Riverton High School in 1953.

In first grade at Jefferson Elementary School he met his forever love, Ruth Dunning. They became high school sweethearts and were married on July 25, 1954, at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Riverton.

Darwin was always interested in science and especially electronics. After high school he attended electronics schools in Kansas City, MO and Salt Lake City, UT. Then he went to work for AT&T and attended their classes in Cheyenne to learn how to convert their systems from switchboard to rotary dialing. A few months later he went to work back in Riverton where he taught AT&T engineers how to make the same conversion to their systems.

While still employed at AT&T his interest in electronics led him to open his own shop, Riverton Radio and TV. He worked nights doing the repairs and his mother, Georgie, ran the shop during the day, receiving TVs and radios and taking calls.

During this time Darwin and Ruth became parents to two sons, Anthony and Jeffery.

Eventually his independent streak drove him to quit his job at AT&T to run his shop full time. In those years the only reliable television to be had was through a cable tv service. People living in rural areas received no tv signal at all. Darwin built translators and installed them on Griffey Hill and Boysen Peak to bring Casper television to Fremont County where it was transmitted for free. He donated his time and paid for all the electricity and equipment himself. His success led other counties to contract with him to build translators in their communities. In the 1960's he was contacted by Wyoming Senator Gail McGee to testify in Congress in the interest of creating a law that allowed rural areas in the United States to use broadcasting frequencies made available by the government for translator technology. The permission was granted.

Darwin became a member of the National Translator Association where he served as president for 13 years and continued for another six years as a consultant. He also advocated for bringing PBS broadcasting to Wyoming and helped local engineers to convert PBS to the digital format. Later he donated his building and equipment on Boysen Peak to Central Wyoming College and PBS. He continued as a consultant for PBS for most of the rest of his life.

Darwin also served on the District 25 School Board for eight years. He has been a longstanding and participating member of the Elks Lodge and became a LIFE member in 1999.

He never really retired from his electronics business and continued to go to his shop nearly every day until his health began to limit his ability to leave his home in 2025.

His favorite non-work interests included spending time with Ruth and entertaining his grandchildren at his shop building exciting electronic toys.

Darwin was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents; his brother, Ben; sister, Ina Jo; in-laws, Viola and Alva Good; and sister-in-law, Jewel Skaggs; along with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is survived by his wife of over 71 years, Ruth, his son, Anthony (Christina) with children Labon and Ian; and his son, Jeffery (Vicki) with children Taylor and Logan.

There will be a private, graveside gathering of family on January 31, 2026 followed by a memorial service for family and friends at the Elks Lodge in Riverton at 3:00 pm with dinner to follow.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Help for Health Hospice, the Elks Lodge, or a charity of your choice in care of the Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main Street, Riverton, WY 82501.

Condolences for the family may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com

Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home, Crematory and Monuments of Riverton, Wyoming.