BILDEN, Millard Clarence --- 1916-1998

SWENSON, BILDEN, HOEG, MARTEN, TAYLOR, MAROLF

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 12/30/2012 at 14:24:02

Millard Clarence Bilden

Funeral services for Millard Bilden were held Monday, October 5, 1998, at 11 a.m. in East Clermont Lutheran Church, rural Clermont, Iowa. The Rev. Paul Birkedal officiated. Schutte Funeral Service of Clermont was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Millard Clarence Bilden, the only child of Theodore and Julia (Swenson) Bilden, was born April 6, 1916, on the family farm in Marion Township, Clayton County, east of Clermont, Iowa. He passed away Thursday evening, October 1, 1998, in the Good Samaritan Center at West Union, Iowa. He had reached the age of 82 years, 5 months and 25 days.

He was baptized June 14, 1916 by the Rev. C. H. Hjortholm and confirmed May 4, 1930 in the East Clermont Lutheran Church by the Rev. Gustav Gunston. He attended the Brorbry School near his home.

On May 23, 1940, he was married to Jeleen Marie Morch in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Postville. To this union 8 children were born. The couple started farming on the Bilden family farm where they lived for 23 years. They lived on the Alfred Buraas farm and then moved to Clermont in 1981 where they built their present home.

Millard was a progressive farmer and adopted ideas that would improve the farm, which included conservation of the land and concern for the environment. He had been President of the local National Farmers Organization and a Board member of the Gunder Cheese Factory. He was a dedicated worker but also took time for church activities and for his family. Millard was a member of the East Clermont Lutheran Church and served on the church Council and was active in the men's organization. He enjoyed taking his family fishing, swimming, and roller skating. Millard and Jeleen enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and going out with their friends. In 1976 they traveled to Norway to visit relatives and friends. They also visited many points of interest in the United States.

He is survived by his wife, Jeleen, 8 children: Sandra (Jim) Hoeg of Winthrop Harbor, IL, Diann (Greg) Marten of Decorah, Peter (Wanda) of Cedar Rapids, Dale (Cindy) Bilden of Clermont, Jane Taylor of Sheboygan, Wis., Don (Holly) Bilden of Vancouver, Wash., Dean (Nan) of Houston, Texas, and Zelda (Steve) Marolf of Moline, Ill.; grandchildren Jeffrey (Kari) Hunze-Hoeg, Brian (Yvette) Hoeg, Kevin Marten, Jennifer Marten, Casey Bilden, Lacey Bilden, Kaylee Bilden, Tina (Todd) VanDenHul and Gail (Herb) Doudney, Tammy Bilden, Anthony Bilden, Andrew Bilden, Spenser Bilden, Christopher Taylor, Dawn, Karla, and Audrey Bilden, Nicholas Bilden, Alex Bilden, Wendi Marolt and Kyle Marolf; great-grandchildren Christopher Anderson, Keisha, Michael and Tyler VanDenHul, and Josh, Josie and Jennifer Doudney.

Millard is preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Gayle (Miller) Bilden.

Casket bearers were Jeffery Hunze-Hoeg, Brian Hoeg, Kevin Marten, Casey Bilden, Anthony Bilden, Andrew Bilden, Christopher Taylor, Nicholas Bilden and Alex Bilden.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.