Hila M. Gilbert, age 96 of Sheridan, WY died Sunday, February 10, 2002, in Sheridan Manor.  She was born January 31, 1906, in Youngstown, Missouri, to Alton H. and Daisy A. (Goodwin) Garard.

She grew up and attended schools in Missouri, Powell, WY and Billings, MT, before graduating from Sheridan High School in 1924.  She graduated from Heiman's Business School in Sheridan.  Hila married Harold Gilbert on March 5, 1927, in Sheridan.  They lived in Laramie, WY, until they moved back to Sheridan in the early 1940's.  She assisted in organizing the Wyoming Artists Assoc. in the 1930's and was an officer in the State League of Nursing.  She was appointed by Governor Milward Simpson as a founding member of the State Mental Health Commission and was also appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.  She was an officer in the Wyoming Archeological Society and enjoyed going on many digs.  As a member of the Sheridan Chapter of the Wyoming Historical Society, she helped save the Sheridan Inn and Trail End.

Hila was the volunteer secretary for Francis Lewis Sinclair and helped him found the All American Indian Days.  She did research through friendship with the Cheyenne Indians for the book "Big Bar Pourier", which she wrote with George and Bernice Harris.  The Cheyenne Indians adopted her and gave her the name "Ve Ho Na" which means "Chief Woman."  She was executive secretary of the Continental Confederation of Adopted Indians from 1960 - 1968 as well as Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee of the State Womens' Club.  Governors Jack Gage and Clifford Hansen appointed her as the Wyoming Representative to the Governor's Interstate Indian Council in 1962 and 1963.

Hila enjoyed painting and being outdoors.  She loved people and made friends with everyone she met.  She was preceded in death by one daughter Vicki and her sister Velma Pritchard.

Hila is survived by her son Kenneth Gilbert of Sheridan; daughter Cheri Dollison and husband Fred of Sheridan; and granddaughter Erin Dollison.

Private family services will be held at a later date with Champion-Ferries Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may benefit the Sheridan Senior Citizen Center, 211 Smith St., Sheridan.