Eleanor Judith Hillemann, 1919-2013
Eleanor Judith Hillemann, 94, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. She was born on March 18, 1919, at Bluff Dale Ranch near Almont, N.D. Her parents, Emelie Sorum Pederson, and Jonathan Pederson, were homesteaders and the children of Norwegian immigrants. She was the fourth of six daughters.
Mrs. Hillemann attended school in Almont and went to on Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., graduating from North Dakota State Teachers College, Fargo, to become a teacher. She began teaching in North Dakota and finished her career in California, a kindergarten teacher.
On May 23, 1941, at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, Calif., she married Harold Adolf Andrew Hillemann. They lives in San Fernando and raised three children. They were married for 51 years.
In August 2010, Mr. Hillemann moved to Hilty Home, Pandora, to be near her daughter, JoAnn Krugh. Throughout her life she has written poetry and has been published often in Ideals magazine.
Surviving include a son, Walter (Jane) Hillemann, a daughter, JoAnn (Mike) Krugh, eight grandchildren, Erica Victor, Desiree Alexander, Coralie (Chris) Wick, Gabriel Salas, Loren (TinTin) Salas, Matthew Krugh, Laura Krugh and Leon (Allison) Galbraith; eight great- grandchildren, Mya, Ava, Gavin, Aidan, Christian, Amber, Nathan and Novi; two sisters, Mildred Olson and June Hove; three brothers-in-law, Roman Peterson, Victor Hillemann and Norman Hillemann and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Hillemann was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; a daughter, Carol Galbraith; a grandson, Jesse Galbraith; and three sisters, Lillian Peterson, Dagmar Stoeckel and Ruth Britton.
A Celebration of Life service was held Saturday, Nov. 16, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, LaCrescenta, Calif., followed by burial at Glen Haven Cemetery, Sylmar, Calif. Pastor Gary Heltsley officated.
Memorial contributions may be given to Mother's for Peace at www.mothersforpeace.org or a charity of choice.
Stories Posted This Week
Thursday, October 15, 2026
- DeWine announces $200M Rural Health Transformation program award
- Herb program with Marge Lafollette, Oct. 15
- Prairie seeding activity at Bluffton University, October 24
- Food for thought: Choline for the brain
- Results for 5K on October 2, Bluffton University Homecoming event
- 15 minutes with Sherry Miller, senior center activities coordinator
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 14
- CANCELLED Main St. closure on October 15
- Frederick Clyde Warren founded True-2-Form Plastics
- October 15 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Pirate boys soccer beats Wapak in regular season finale
- Pirate girls soccer defeats Liberty Center
- Mennonite pastor to explore ‘good news’ in creation
- Bluffton University earns recognition in U.S. News & World Report rankings
- Obituary for Deborah "Debbie" Welch, 74
- Spirits and exorcism presentation during University Spiritual Life Week Forum
- Dodging bullets: Bluffton oral history 90+ years after Dillinger robbery
- Nora Matthews named BHS Student of the Month for September 2026
- ICAPP analysis on charter status and local autonomy
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 13
- Bluffton area Women in Business meeting October 15
- Leo club glasses collection
- Night at the (Swiss Historical) Museum, October 24
- Woodcarving ornament workshop at Swiss Heritage Center
- Barefoot nature walks at the Nature Preserve
- Pirate volleyball seeded 4th
- Beavers sports roundup, October 6-11
- Bluffton leaf pickup scheduled for last week of October
- Pirate boys soccer shuts out Bellefontaine
- Watch an after school movie at the Bluffton Public Library
- Dunlap awarded OSBA humanitarian award