Charles R. Hillgren 1936 - 2000

HILLGREN, AINSWORTH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/18/2017 at 09:54:46

Sioux City Journal
20 January 2000

Charles R. Hillgren, 63, of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Webster, S.D., formerly of Sioux City died Monday at his residence of an apparent heart attack.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at American Lutheran Church in Webster. Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Fiksdal Funeral Home in Webster. A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Sioux City at a later date.

Mr. Hillgren was born September 16, 1936 in Britton, S.D., the son of Carl Rudolph and Bessie Hillgren. He moved with his family to Webster as a child and attended Webster schools, graduating in 1955. While in high school, he was active with the football and debating teams and was voted class president for two years. He attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, S.D., from 1955 to 1956.

He served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Texas, Mississippi, Minnesota and Guam.

He returned to Northern State in 1960, graduating with a bachelor’s degree and then his master’s degree in 1965. He completed numerous post-graduate hours in counseling and education at the University of South Dakota.

He began his teaching career as a science teacher in Omaha before accepting a guidance counseling position at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School in 1967. His career as a Sioux City counselor continued at Leeds Junior High School from 1972 until its closing in 1980, North High School from 1980 to 1983, West Middle School and Woodrow Wilson Middle School from 1983 to 1986, and the Individual Learning Center (ILC) from 1986 until his retirement in 1994. He then moved to northeast South Dakota and worked part time as an adjunct faculty member in the education department at Northern State University in Aberdeen.

He married Sue Jean Ainsworth on April 4, 1969, in Sioux City. The couple later divorced on April 4, 1988. She died July 21, 1988.

He served in the church council at First Lutheran Church and on the boards of the Red Cross, ARC, Boys and Girls Home and a number of other agencies serving youth. He was an Eagle Scout and enjoyed traveling, golfing and reading.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Amy Hillgren Peterson and Edward Allen Peterson of Sioux City, two grandchildren, Caitlyn Rose and Dylon Michael Peterson, a sister, Charlene R. Hillgren of Dupree, S.D., a foster sister and her husband, Beverly Carr Johnson and Carl Johnson of Webster and Palm Springs, California, a step-sister, Ann Jeanene Carlson Wendt of Fairborn, Ohio and five nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother, Agnes Victoria Hillgren.

Pallbearers will be Arvin Olson, Neil Haass, Lyle Berg, Ray Kampa, Lonnie Vanderlinden and Dennis Johnson.