Linda Hilde

Linda K. Hilde, age 77, of Madison, died Sunday, December 23, 2018, at the Lake Norden Care and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Monday, December 31, 2018, at Ellsworth Funeral Home at Madison. The family will be present for visitation Sunday, December 30, from 2PM-4PM at the Ellsworth Funeral Home. A lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity Lutheran Church following the burial at Graceland Cemetery.

Linda Kay Anderson was born March 1, 1941, in Madison, SD to Clifford and Marian (Welsh) Anderson. She graduated from Madison High School in 1959. She attended freshman year of college at USD in Vermillion and then transferred to Dakota State College where she completed her BA in Elementary Education in 1963. She also earned a degree in Library Science from DSC.

She met Dennis Hilde on a blind date while in high school.  Several years later they were married on December 10, 1961. They made their home on the shore of Lake Madison where they raised 2 kids. She was a teacher and a librarian for the Franklin/Chester schools for several years before joining the family business, Hilde Pipe and Gravel, which she and Dennis operated for 50+ years. She and Dennis also developed the neighborhoods of Best Point and Woodland Marina on the south shore of Lake Madison. 

Linda was a passionate about civic service, especially any environmental causes or clean water efforts. Over the years Linda was active on many boards and committees that served the community and the State, including: the SD Board of Minerals and Environment for nearly 30 years, the Lake Madison Development Association, the State Emergency Response Board, Secretary of the Lake Madison Sanitary District, a founding board member for the local Ethanol plant, and President of the SD Lakes and Streams Board. She travelled from Washington, D.C. to California to represent State and local interests on several of these boards. 

From a young age and throughout her life Linda was an avid artist. She was a talented painter, a potter, a stained-glass maker, a poet and much, much more.  She primarily created for her own pleasure however she would often make a piece upon request or gift an item to an admiring friend or relative. She and Dennis made and donated several stained glass windows to Bethel Lutheran Home. She also wrote several short stories and many poems, several of which were published in South Dakota Pasque Petals magazine. She left a legacy of artistic creations that will continue to amaze and inspire us for years to come.

Survivors include a daughter Denise (Tom) Lewis of Madison, SD; a son Chad (Valorie) Hilde of San Bernardino, CA; a sister Karen Anderson of Madison, SD; and a sister Sonya Anderson of Madison, SD; 4 grand-daughters.   

She was preceded in death by her husband; both parents; a brother, Michael; and an infant daughter, Maren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to please consider a memorial to the National Alzheimer Association, in the name of Linda Hilde.

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