Eldon Hillman

Eldon Hillman, 97, of Mountain, North Dakota, passed away February 3, 2012, at Borg Pioneer Memorial Home in Mountain. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at the United Lutheran Church, Cavalier, ND Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m.to7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 7th at the Jensen-Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier. Interment will be at the Vidalin Cemetery, rural Hensel, ND. In lieu of flowers, memorial are suggested to the Bor Memorial Home, 61 Borg Drive, Mountain, ND 58262.
Eldon Stone Hillman was born January 14, 1915 in Akra, ND, the son of Stone and Cenia (Spangelo) Hillman. On June 11, 1939, Eldon married Anna Holmfridur Bjornson. They lived on their farm near Cavalier until 1995, when they moved to Grand Forks, where Anna passed away in October 1995. Eldon remained in Grand Forks until moving to the Borg Pioneer Memorial Home in March 2010.
He was a grain farmer who raised livestock and sold gravel. He worked at the PAR site near Concrete and as a Park Ranger in the early years of the Icelandic State Park where he created the nature trails near the river. With his wife, he compiled the first trail guidebook and markers for park visitors to identify species along the paths. For several years, he was a member of the Church Council at Pembina Hills Lutheran Church, Peters Parish and was involved in several volunteer positions. Later, he was a member of Sharon Lutheran in Grand Forks. He served on the Akra Township Board and was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In 2000, his sons dedicated a wildlife tract to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in his honor. This acreage, near his birthplace, contains thousands of trees planted by Eldon to encourage wildlife habitat.
Woodworking was a hobby that Eldon particularly enjoyed and many of his friends and relatives are honored to own a piece of his woodwork. The small trinket boxes, candlesticks, grandchildren's chairs, and frames for Anna's paintings and handiwork are all precious reminders of the skills he possessed and the excitement he shared when he found and worked with an exotic wood or created a new shape with his lathe. Eldon was noted for planting trees on his own farmstead and experimented with grafting various fruit trees, grapes, and berries to yield delicious fruit sauces and jams. In recent years, he looked forward to a game of pool following lunch at his apartment building.
Survivors include his four sons: Arthur (Margaret) of Grand Forks, ND; Conrad (Beverly) of Bismarck, ND; David (Jacqueline) of Lincoln, NE; and Kurtwood (Diane) of Houston, TX. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Anna; sisters: Alpha Sturlaugson, Norma Holen, and Helyn Walerius; twin brother Everett Hillman; and grandson Ryan Hillman.
Clergy: Rev. Beth Peterson.
Honorary Pallbearers: All of Eldon's Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.
Music: Suzie Ashpole, pianist and Renee Cashin, Soloist.