Final Harvest

He was bound to the land from the day of his birth

His roots anchored deep in the fertile earth

Nurtured, sustained, by the soil he grew

And his life, like his furrows, ran straight and true

In faith, each spring, he planted the seeds.

In hope to reap his family's needs

With patience, he waited for the harvest to come.

Ever turning season, the years sped past

Till the final harvest came at last

Then claimed anew by beloved sod,

He was gathered home to be with God.                       Barbara W. Webrbara W. Weber

A Celebration of Farewell

Remembering

Hardy Warren Hillestad

Date and Place of Birth

April 18, 1923 ~ Claire City, South Dakota

Date and Place of Death

March 24, 2019 ~ Watertown, South Dakota

Funeral Service

March 30, 2019 ~ 2:00 P.M.

First Lutheran Church

Claire City, South Dakota

Officiating

Rev. Cheryl Rondeau-Bassett

Organist

Crystal Kemnitz

Soloist

Janeen Kohl

Pallbearers

Eric Hillestad, Melissa Sandve, Brett Hillestad

Mark Ellingson, Paul Setnes, Frank Konda, Franklin Krause

Honorary Pallbearers

Great-grandson Levi Hillestad,

"All friends and family of Edgewood Living Center,

& Claire City friends and neighbors"

Interment

Claire City Cemetery

Claire City, South Dakota

Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, South Dakota

Hardy Warren Hillestad, the son of Hans and Lillian (Brendel) Hillestad, was born April 18, 1923 on a farm northwest of Claire City in Norway Township. The family moved to a farm north of Claire City in Minnesota Township where he attended rural school and graduated from Claire City High School in 1941. He worked for farmers in the neighborhood and went to Minneapolis for a time and worked for the Casey Transfer Company. In 1945 he returned to South Dakota and farmed with his father. He was married to Ileane Bartnick on June 7, 1946 at the Zion Lutheran Church, Claire City, SD and they moved to a farm one mile north of Claire City where they lived their entire married life of 59 years. They were the parents of four children. Hardy was a successful farmer who raised sheep, cattle, and hogs. Even after he retired and rented the land to his son Curtis, his love for the land, and farm life kept him active in farming and in close touch with the farm by assisting with the farm work whenever he was needed. He liked to tell the story of starting out with a Model T Ford which cost him $27.00. He enjoyed Ford Pickups, and International tractors. He was honored to be the grand marshal of the Claire City Centennial parade on June 29, 2013 and to have his grandson drove his prized 1949 International M tractor that his sons restored for the parade.

Hardy was a lifelong member of the First Lutheran Church where he was baptized and confirmed and held various positions on the church council. He served as a member of the New Effington School board and was a member of the Claire City Cemetery board for many years. He and Ileane traveled to many places in the United States, Alaska, and Canada. For sixteen years they wintered in Mission, TX, and he spent five winters in Mesa, AZ. Hardy's failing eyesight caused him to make Edgewood Vista Assisted Living Center his new home in December of 2015, where he enjoyed the staff and residents. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather who enjoyed spending time with family, and friends. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, driving tractor, riding his Ranger, and playing cards. Hardy also listened to Old Time music, watched wildlife in the area, and enjoyed coffee at the Farmers Inn and shaking dice.

Hardy passed away suddenly on March 24, 2019 at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD. He will be missed by his family, Gail Hillestad of St. Louis Park, MN, Curtis and Nancy Hillestad, of Claire City, SD, Mary Lou and David Sandve, of Webster, SD, and Darrell Hillestad and Vickie Schrenk of Aberdeen, SD; three grandchildren, Eric and Mandi Hillestad of Claire City, SD, Melissa Sandve of New York, NY, and Brett Hillestad, of Claire City, SD, one great grandson Levi Hillestad, and special friend Arda Mae Loberg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ileane, sister Anetta Setnes, and brother Ray.