Eugene Sherman Hildahl

Eugene Hildahl, of Montevideo, died on Tuesday, April 7, 1998 at the Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 84.

Funeral services were conducted on Saturday, April 11, 1998 at 11:00 A.M. at the United Methodist Church in Montevideo with Rev. Robert Ford officiating.  Burial was in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

Eugene Sherman Hildahl was born on May 17, 1913 in Chippewa Co., MN to John and Hannah (Hammer) Hildahl.  He was baptized and confirmed at Saron Lutheran Church and attended rural schools.  On October 25, 1942 he was united in marriage to Evelyn Prien at the Methodist Church in Montevideo.  He worked for short periods of time as a blacksmith, on the railroad and in farming before beginning the Hildahl Construction Co. in the mid 1940's, making him the fourth generation to be involved in construction.  The company worked in general construction and house moving until he retired 35 years later in the late 1970's.  He  had currently been a resident of the Luther Haven Nursing Home.  He was very active in the Sons of Norway, designed and built their Viking ship parade float, and was the editor of the Sons of Norway Newsletter, for which he won several awards.  He was very active in the Chippewa Co. Historical Society and was instrumental in developing Pioneer Village and the Swenson Farm.  He moved and designed many buildings, built the gazebo in Pioneer Village and was awarded a place in the Historical Society Hall of Fame in 1992.  He also was honored to ride in the Fiesta Days Parade as “Mayor of Pioneer Village”.  He was a long time member of the United Methodist Church in Montevideo, was active in and had served as President of the Men's Club, had served in several church offices, did much church repair work and designed and built cabins for the Decision Hills Bible Camp near Spicer, MN.  His interests also included  “old time” music, fishing, rosemaling, teaching Norwegian Classes, threshing shows and fishing.  He was a creative, innovative person who enjoyed working with his hands.  He was a devoted family man who enjoyed his immediate family as well as family get-togethers.

He is survived by daughters - Nancy Seubert and her husband Fred and Carol Grau and her husband Lee, both of Montevideo;  grandchildren -David (Jennifer) Seubert of Willmar, MN; Rashelle (Pat) Shorter of Worthington, MN; Jason (Shelly) Seubert of Montevideo; Amy Seubert of Montevideo; Julie (Jim) Nolte of Westbrook, MN; and Jon Grau of Montevideo; 6 great grandchildren; a brother - Gordon Hildahl and his wife Florence of Sacred Heart, MN; as well as by a number of cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Evelyn in 1988, a son David Hildahl and a grandson - Jeffrey Grau.