Sylvester Hilson Obituary (1917 - 2013)

Sylvester Hilson, age 95, of Menomonie, WI passed away Saturday, March 2, 2013 at the Dunn County Health Care Center in Menomonie, with his family by his side. He was born May 15, 1917 in Eau Claire, WI and grew up in the North Running Valley community near Colfax. Sylvester attended Running Valley School and Colfax High School. In 1938 he moved to Menomonie, with his parents, Carl and Nora (Anderson) Hilson and five sisters. He farmed with his father until 1944, when he and his wife Lillian started farming. On May 20, 1944 Sylvester married Lillian Torgerson at the Little Elk Creek Lutheran Church. Sylvester was a dairy farmer his entire life. He was also a member of the Menomonie Farmers Union Co-op Board and the Menomonie Farmers Credit Union Board. He was an active member of Little Elk Creek Lutheran Church and was a Little Elk Creek 4-H Swine project leader for many years. Sylvester was active in the Sons of Norway and very proud of his Norwegian ancestry. He and his wife were volunteers for "Meals on Wheels" for several years. Sylvester's family was very important to him and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Sylvester is survived by his children, Eldon Hilson of Menomonie, Lois (Dave) Wieland of Indianola, IA, Lynnette (Dave) Smith of Menomonie; four grandchildren, Eric (Susan Stull) Wieland, Amy (Nick) Varcoe, Stacy (Jake) Bloom, Travis (Jen) Smith; five great-grandsons, Clayton Smith, Evan and Wyatt Varcoe, Maxwell Bloom and Brecken Wieland; and a sister, Borghild (Ray) Morley of Eau Claire. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 68 years, Lillian, who passed away on Feb. 20, 2013; his sisters, Gilma Wieman, Eleanor Larson, June Schilling and Carol Olson. The family would like to thank the staff at Dunn County Health Care Center in Menomonie for their loving care of Sylvester. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Little Elk Creek Lutheran Church in the Town of Red Cedar, Dunn Co., WI, with Pastor Dale Moe officiating. Burial will be in Froen Cemetery also in the Town of Red Cedar. There will be visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.