James Edward Hiller
December 2, 1938 ~ November 04, 2012
Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 3:00pm, Saturday, November 17, 2012, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon with a memorial service beginning at 11:00am. Phyllis Wendell will be officiating.
James Edward Hiller was born December 2, 1938, in Flandreau to Edward and Mildred (Pien) Hiller. He was raised and educated in the Flandreau school system through eighth grade. Jim then left home and traveled with a family migrating and working north to south throughout the US. He returned home to Flandreau at age 18, where he met his sweetheart, Karen Larimore. On February 22, 1959, at the ages of 20 and 17, after reportedly skipping school to get a marriage license and being caught by the school principle, the couple was married in Pipestone, MN. The couple moved about in the Brookings, Dell Rapids, and Flandreau area while Jim worked several jobs in the area. Three children were born during this time; Ed, Kathy, and Betty. In 1965, Jim took a position working at Gage Brothers in Sioux Falls and forty years later, he retired as the lead maintenance man.
Jim was a man of huge character. He loved hunting and fishing in the earlier years and spending time telling stories and sharing his humor with his friends and his family, especially his grandchildren in the later times. He really enjoyed helping anyone; mowing at his church, teaching or mentoring others on his skills, or repairing and working on machines. He was known to have stopped to help someone with a flat tire. When asked how much to pay him for his time, he told the person he would not take anything. They were to do something good for someone else. He was a great believer for “paying it forward.”
Sadly, Jim, 73, was called Home to Glory on Sunday, November 04, 2012, at the Avera Dorohty Hospice Home in Sioux Falls.
Jim is survived by his wife, Karen; one son, Ed, of Arlington, two daughters, Kathy (Bob) Swanson, of Sioux Falls, and Betty Shields, of Sioux Falls; his mother, Mildred Hiller of Sioux Falls; five grandchildren, Shavon Borman, Maria Shields, Brandi Shields, Ashley Hagen, and Ryan Swanson; two and ½ great-grandchildren, Xavier Borman and Addilynn Hagen and one sister, Judy (Pete) Peterson, Seattle, WA.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, two brothers, John and Jerry Hiller; three sisters, Beverly Hiller, Joyce Hiller, JoAnn Huseman and one son-in-law, RJ Shields.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to the Avera Hospice Unit or SD Relay for Life in James’ honor.
I would like to send many prayers to the whole Hiller Family,,The loss of a loved one is never easy but sometimes we have to love enough to let them go,,May James RIP with his family.
I’m so sorry to hear about the great lost of Jim, I was very sad to hear of his illness when I talked to him and Karen a few weeks ago. I wished I would have had more time to visit with the both of you. Jim was a very good friend and I always looked forward to his visits at work. He always had nothing but good things to say about people and was always buying something from me to help out other people. I will really miss him and Karen I will keep you and your family in my prayers during this sad time. May god bless all of you.
My prayers and thoughts are with Jim and his family…I have met Jim once or twice, knew Karen and the children more so…He was deeply loved…will be missed by all…God be with all of you…
Sorry to hear of Jim’s passing and I will miss his laugh and great stories. Jim, Karen and family have been a blessing in my life and in many others. Prayers are with you.
My deepest sympathy for Karen and her family. Jim will be greatly missed. Karen and I went to school together at Egan, SD. Jim was always willing to help other people and was so handy that it really amazed me the things he could do. My prayers are with the Hiller family.
Dear Karen and Family,
I was saddened to hear of Jim’s death. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family. I remember Jim from when you stayed at Mom and Dad’s during the flooding near your house. I remember lots of laughing and pride in his Karen and in the kids.
May God comfort you in this time.