Douglas C. Hills, age 80, of Summit, SD passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at a local care center. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown, officiated by Emmet Valnes. Visitation will be prior to the funeral service at the chapel, beginning at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be at a later date at the Summit Cemetery in rural Summit. Pallbearers will be Douglas' grandchildren: Jamin Hills, Shaphan Hills, Dale Golden, Derrick Golden, Daniel Golden, Dustin Golden, Michael Geldreich, Roy Lara, Jr., Jordan Erickson, Joseph Erickson, Corey Taylor, Ross Brodock, Jocelyn Jasperson, Leanna Erickson, and Jessica Sanders. Douglas was born on July 20, 1938, in Faith, SD. He was adopted by his parents, Eldon and Harriet (Knapp) Hills and moved to rural Peever, SD. Douglas attended country school and worked on the farm. At 17, he enlisted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. While on leave, he married Yvonne Miller on May 22, 1956, and after another two and a half years, he returned home. Together, they had six children and after living all over the country, they settled in Summit, where they called home for the last 54 years. Douglas was a trucker and farmer. He was a firm, but loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be remembered by his family for his love of South Dakota's natural beauty, which he called "God's Country". An avid outdoorsman, Douglas reveled in fishing, trapshooting, hunting, and tending to his garden. Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Yvonne; his children: Donald (Becky) Hills, of Reno, NV, Judy (Phil) Brown, of Sioux Falls, SD, Amber (Lyndon) Geldreich, of Powell, WY, Marlene (Roy) Lara, of Boise, ID, Linda (Leslie) Erickson, of Ashville, NC, and Bonnie Taylor (Jack Olinger), of Hartford, SD; 15 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Shirley) Hills, of Summit, SD, and sisters: Jenny King, of Sacramento, CA, and Julie Pinter, of Roseville, MN; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, five sisters, and one great-granddaughter, Payton.
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