DELLA HILTS BAINES was born in Noatak, Alaska on May 19, 1958 and was adopted by Rod and Sunni Hilts. She was born addicted to alcohol. When Sunni and Rod adopted her in Kotzebue at age 5, she was only expected to live another year. Instead, she made it to 42, but struggled with the disease all her life. She lived in Seldovia from 1970 until her death.
Della married Daniel Richard Baines in 1988.
She died in Seldovia on May 30, 2000 and is buried in the Seldovia City Cemetery Plot # 313, next to her husband.