Hillard remembered by mourners

Hundreds say goodbye to former Lt. Gov. Carole Hillard

By Bill Harlan, Journal staff | Friday, November 02, 2007

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RAPID CITY -- Hundreds of mourners attended a memorial service here Thursday for former Lt. Gov. Carole Rypkema Hillard, a globe-trotting humanitarian who died last week in Switzerland.

Hillard, 71, suffered complications after a sailing accident in the Adriatic Sea earlier last month.

A squad of state troopers presented the colors in the theater at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Students from Africa, South America and New Zealand, all studying in Rapid City, sang hymns from Africa, such as "Esengo," which means "Joy" in a Congolese language.

Hillard's survivors include her three sons and two daughters. They all spoke at the service.

"She is actually survived by scores and scores of children," son Eddie Hillard of Encinitas, Calif., said.

Hillard had traveled to more than 60 countries in the past decade advocating for civil rights -- especially for women and children. She also supervised elections, promoted free enterprise and encouraged democracy.

The Rev. Doug Diehl of First United Methodist Church in Rapid City, who officiated Thursday, admitted it was "a bit of a challenge" to pastor to Hillard. "It's hard to pastor a sheep who had wings," he said.

Before her international career, Hillard served two terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives, then eight years as lieutenant governor.

That public career drew messages of sympathy from throughout the state, the nation and the world, but the eulogies Thursday were personal.

"She's still just our Mom," the Rev. Todd Hillard of San Antonio, Texas, said. He remembered how his mother posted aphorisms on sticky notes on her refrigerator, such as "Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it," and "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Todd Hillard's personal favorite bore a saying his mother repeated before she played tennis: "I'm a relaxed, cold killer."

That got a laugh because Hillard, who was active in Republican politics, was remembered by members of both parties as relentlessly kind and good-natured.

After the service, current Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard, a fellow Republican, recalled after the service how he had gone to Hillard for advice on public speaking -- maybe the one thing Hillard truly feared. "She told me, 'Get help,'" Daugaard said. "And I did."

Rapid City attorney Linda Lea Viken was a young Democratic state legislator in 1973 when she first served on an education commission with Hillard. Later, they served on the state Status of Women Commission, conspiring for more funding and recognition.

"She had a quiet power in meetings," Viken said.

Hillard attended many, many meetings -- on education, on state prisons, on a host of other issues. Son David Hillard of Rapid City said, "She loved being part of systematic change in the world."

He recalled how his mother had to cut holes in her tennis shoes to play because of a foot ailment. And while she crawled through tunnels left over from the Vietnam War, she was considering double knee surgery. Hillard also suffered life-long, chronic back pain.

David Hillard said work, service and adventure took his mother's mind off physical ailments.

But mostly Hillard's children -- including daughters Lornell Haggerty and Sue Hauff of Rapid City -- remembered their mother for her sense of fun and adventure.

Slides projected in the civic center theater showed Hillard skydiving, skiing and hang gliding -- or posing with groups of women and children throughout the world.

Hillard's new red sports car, an Audi TT Roadster, was parked outside the civic center during the service. The license plates read: "GO CAROL."

Memorials to Carole Hillard

Carole Hillard was on the board of the Heifer Foundation, an international organization that provides impoverished farmers with livestock. Her family requests that memorials in her name be sent to the foundation at 1015 Louisiana St., Little Rock, Ark. 72202, or call (888) 422-1161 or go to www.heiferfoundation.org

Contact Bill Harlan at 394-8424 or bill.harlan@rapidcityjournal.com