David J. Hillman

David John Hillman, 86, of Walhalla, ND, passed away peacefully at Pembilier Nursing Center on June 13, 2026.  Those who knew Dave might say he was simply called home to his next Valhalla.

David was born on May 17, 1940, in Langdon, ND, to John Pietur and Jacobina Pauline (Westford) Hillman. He grew up on the family farm west of Mountain and graduated there in 1958.  He later attended the University of North Dakota, earning a degree in Psychology in 1965.

Also in 1965, David married Gloria Arntz. Together they raised three children: Eric, Stephanie, and Andrea.  After living in Seattle and Fort Worden, WA, and Rugby, ND, the family returned to the Hillman farm near Mountain in 1972, where David farmed grain and raised cattle for nearly two decades.

A proud member of the recovery community, David celebrated 54 years of sobriety and spent much of his life supporting others on their own journeys.  Following the sale of the farm in 1990, he worked as an AAL insurance agent before returning to school and earning a Master's Degree in Addiction Counseling from North Dakota State University in 1996.  He went on to serve as an addiction counselor in Rolla and Devils Lake.  In 2004, he moved to Walhalla, where he remained active in both counseling and farming, working for the Anderson family through the summer of 2025.

David's Icelandic heritage was a lifelong source of pride.  He served and volunteered for the Icelandic Communities Association for more than twenty years and on the board of the Northeastern North Dakota Heritage Association at Icelandic State Park.  He especially cherished family trips to Iceland in 1996 and 2022 and was honored, alongside his brother Lyle, to serve as Grand Marshal of the August the Deuce Parade in 2024.

David was deeply committed to his community. He served on the Pembina County Soil Conservation Board for more than a decade, held several terms on the church council at Pembina Hills Lutheran Church, and was a member of the Masons for more than fifty years, as well as the Elks.

Dave loved road trips, musicals, PBS, old cars and tractors, pie and coffee, and sharing the beauty of the Pembina Gorge with visitors.  Above all, he treasured time with his children, grandchildren, extended family, and many friends.

David was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Kenny Hillman, and sister-in-law Betty; his sister, Johanna Guðrun Audrey (Hillman) Steinberg and brother-in-law Irv; and his nephews Charles Steinberg and Larry Roxby.

He is survived by his brother, Dr. Rögnvaldur Sveinn Lyle Hillman (Diane); his son, Eric Hillman (DeeDee), grandchildren Devin and Kyra, and great-grandson Greysen; his daughter, Stephanie (Paul), grandchildren Cael and Lumia; and his daughter, Andrea (Marc), grandchildren Ella and Beck. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, colleagues, friends, and all those whose lives were enriched by his friendship, guidance, and care.

Dave was a lifelong member of Vikur Lutheran Church, where funeral services will be held on Friday, August 7, at 1:00 p.m., followed by refreshments and fellowship.

Memorials may be directed to the Domestic Violence & Abuse Center, Faith in Action, the Icelandic Community Association, or Vikur Lutheran Church.

He will be deeply missed.