Earl Sheldon Hillier Jr., 74

Earl Sheldon Hillier Jr., 74, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in Kalispell.

Sheldon, as he was known to family and friends, was born Dec. 23, 1936, in Glendive, to Earl and Ruth Hillier. He attended school in Kinsey and in Miles City, graduating from Custer County High School.

Sheldon enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduation. After returning home from the service, Sheldon met Myrna June Myers and they were married Sept. 6, 1959.

Sheldon and Myrna settled down to farm in Kinsey, moving to Miles City a few years later, where Sheldon worked and raced snowmobiles for Western Power Sports based out of Idaho. He was one of the top racers in the Northwest region from the late ’60s to the early ’70s.

Sheldon owned and operated his own construction company in Miles City for years, but one of his most beloved jobs, was driving the bus for CCDHS so he wouldn’t miss any of his sons’ sporting events. He was a wonderful, dedicated father who was always so proud of his children. 

For the last decade, Sheldon worked for Swank Enterprises in Kalispell as project engineer for Swank’s medical division. He was especially proud of his ongoing work on the multimillion dollar Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He was well liked and respected by all. Sheldon was highly regarded for his work ethic, loyalty and love for his family.

Sheldon was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Ruth; and his eldest son, Jeff.

He is survived by Myrna, his wife of nearly 52 years; and his sons, Scott of Havre, and Mitch, his daughter-in-law, Mitch’s wife Becky, and his grandchildren, Garret and McKenna, all of Billings, his sisters, Shirley Egge of Roundup, and Karen Hathaway of Miles City; and his brother, Sidney, of South Dakota.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 7, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell. Condolences may be left by visiting jgfuneralhome.com.