Gordon "Gordy" Hillstrom

Gordon Hillstrom
May 16, 1927  -  August 6, 2019

Gordon Hillstrom, age 92, of Willmar, died Tuesday morning, August 6, at Bethesda Club Suites in Willmar.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, August 10, at First Covenant Church in Willmar.  Interment will be in the Lake Lillian Methodist Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.

Gordon Lambert Hillstrom was born May 16, 1927, in Cosmos, Minnesota, the son of John and Dorothea (Olsen) Hillstrom.  He grew up in rural Cosmos and graduated from Atwater High School in 1945.  Following high school he served in the U.S. Army during World War II, working in military intelligence.  After his discharge from the Army, he attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.  On April 10, 1952, Gordon married Mary Ann Summerlet and they made their home in Lake Lillian.  Gordon worked as a salesman at Hanson Silo until 1987, when he retired after suffering a stroke.  Gordon and Mary Ann later moved to Willmar.

Gordon enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially deer and pheasant.  He also enjoyed golfing, bowling, and baseball, and loved watching Twins games.  Gordon and Mary Ann were avid pinochle players and played several times a week.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Hillstrom of Willmar, MN; two sons, Douglas (and Randine) Hillstrom of Devils Lake, ND, and David Hillstrom of Ely, MN; a daughter, Diane (and Curt) Dyrstad of Clear Lake, MN; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Donna Ledin of Andover, MN; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Barb Brandt in 2017; a grandson, Jeremiah Dyrstad in 1992; and a sister, Lorraine Hillstrom in her youth.