Eileen Hillman

Eileen Hillman, 86, of Warren, MN, passed away on Monday evening, May 15, 2017, in North Valley Health Center, Warren following a brief illness.

Eileen Janet Sund was born on December 12, 1930, in Farmington, MN. Her parents were Axel and Ida (Levang) Sund. When she was a girl she moved to Esplie, MN. She attended Esplie Country School, attended a year of high school at Hollywood High school in Hollywood, Ca. graduating from Goodridge High School in 1948. Following graduation she worked for Woolworth's in Thief River Falls before moving to Warren in 1950 to work as a bookkeeper for Marshall County Co-op.

While at the Co-op, Eileen made the acquaintance of Walter Hillman while he was filling gas. Walt was smitten, and thereafter always made a point to pay his bill in the office where she worked, rather than mail it in. After a year of courting, Eileen and Walter were united in marriage on June 21, 1952, in Goodridge. The couple made their home in Warren, where they would raise their three children, Kathy, Debra and Steve.

Walter and Eileen bought the Hotel Warren in 1965. She also managed the Greyhound bus depot in the Hotel and catered banquets for the Lion’s Club and the Chamber of Commerce. While at the Hotel, Eileen opened an exercise club that was quite ahead of its time. The two would own the hotel for 25 years, side by side, until they retired in 1990.

Eileen was very active in First Lutheran Church, the Legion Auxiliary and the local Red Hat Society. She was the last surviving charter member of the Warren Hospital and Home Auxiliary, established in 1959. She particularly enjoyed helping with the Blood Drives hosted by the Auxiliary. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, reading and spending time with her family. News of a new baby on the way was a great joy to her.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, Walter; children, Kathleen (Dwight) Peterson of Warren, and Debra Omdahl of Grand Forks, ND; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren, and her maternal aunt, Violet Reynolds.

Eileen was preceded in death by her son, Steve Hillman; her parents; and her four siblings, Edith Heden, Wylma Knutson, Ronald Sund, and Rick Sund, of which she was the eldest and longest-lived. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service: Thursday, May 25, 2017, at 2:00 PM, in First Lutheran Church, Warren, MN.
Visitation: Wednesday, May 24, from 5-7:00 PM, in DuBore Funeral Home Chapel, Warren and one hour before services on Thursday at the church.
Interment: Greenwood Cemetery, Warren.

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