Darwin William Hilgenberg, 95, died Aug. 8, 2016.Funeral services were Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the First Reformed Church in Mitchell. Burial was at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian.
Darwin was born Aug. 9, 1921, in Artesian to Grover and Nellie Walker Hilgenberg. He graduated from Artesian High School in 1939 and from Mitchell Business College in 1941. He then went to work for the U.S. Bureau of Mines at Oacoma. In 1941, he joined the Reserves and attended the University of South Dakota until he was called into service. Darwin served in the U.S. Army from 1942 until September of 1945, and served in Europe with the 2nd Armored Division. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Purple Heart.
Darwin married Ilo Jean Barta on Sept. 15, 1946. He was employed as office manager for Langenfeld’s Ice Cream Company for 19 years, 13 years at Educator Supply Co., and six years at Syncom Co., all in Mitchell. He retired in 1987.
Darwin enjoyed playing golf, making craft items out of wood and traveling. He sang in the Mitchell Barbershop Chorus and the First Reformed Church Choir and Quartet for many years. He also loved playing his trumpet with family members and their instruments.
He was past president of the Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army and the Y’s Mens Club. He was a charter member of the Mitchell First Reformed Church and a past member of the Church Consistory.
Survivors include his wife, Ilo Jean; two sons, Darc (Kate) of Victoria Minn., and Brian (Lyn) of Des Moines, Iowa; a daughter, Rhonda (Verlyn) Ramse of Sioux Falls; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Darwin was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Delores Gullickson Borson and Madonna Hilgenberg Barta; and a son, Dexter.