Wilbur Hintz, age 90 of Lemmon, passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2019 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.

Service of Remembrance for Wilbur will be Monday, July 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon.  Rev. Barb West will officiate.  Visitation will be Sunday, July 14 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., with a Prayer service at 5:30 p.m. all at the Prince of Peace Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes in Lemmon, SD.

Wilbur William Hintz was born November 25, 1928 to Gottfried and Leontina (Hochhalter) Hintz on the family farm in Grant County, North Dakota. He was the oldest of the six Hintz children, and they lived on several different farms over the years as Gottfried and Tina worked tirelessly to provide for their growing family through the hardships of the Great Depression. There was little money, but the drafty houses were made into homes through love, hard work, and unwavering faith in the Lord.

He graduated from high school in New Leipzig in 1946 and pursued his love of farming on the wind-swept hills of South Fork Township on the old Nesche Brothers place.

He was drafted into the Army in 1952. After basic training, he was deployed to Korea during the last days of the conflict. He always credited his cousin, Ray Eisenbarth, for keeping him alive on the transport ship as they crossed the Pacific. He was miserably seasick the entire trip, and Ray would make sure he got nourishment and encouragement when he couldn't get out of his bunk.

After his discharge in 1954, he returned to the family farm and his passion for working the land. At a dance in Morristown one night, he was introduced to a beautiful, fun-loving girl named Dorothy Ann Cook. They married in 1956 and settled into the big house on the farm. Wilbur knew how to win a girl's heart, and he installed in-door plumbing in the old coal room down in the basement. Their daughter, Diana Dawn, was born in 1959.

He and Dorothy loved to dance and would cut quite the rug at the Mr. and Mrs. Club dances held at the Quansetta Club in Lemmon. They enjoyed traveling the country to visit family and the company of life-long friends from Lemmon. Their bunch would get together for food and fun, bringing the kids along to play together while the grown-up laughed and played cards into the wee hours of the morning.

Wilbur was active in the community serving on the Adams County FSA board for nine years and the South Fork School and Township boards. He and Dorothy were members of Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon for over 60 years, and he served faithfully on committees and the Session. He was a fixture at the door on many Sundays as usher and greeted his church family with a glad heart.

Wilbur retired from full-time farming in 1989 and pursued his favorite hobby of part-time farming. With a bit more time on his hands, he and Dorothy visited their two grandsons, Garrett and Mason, often - trekking to Minnesota to watch basketball games, wrestling matches, and band concerts. He treasured every minute with them. He also enjoyed daily coffee with the gang at NAPA and regular drives around the countryside to observe the seasons of planting, growing, and harvesting.

He was a man of deep and abiding faith. He loved the life he and Dorothy made together, and he loved his family beyond measure. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Dorothy; his grateful daughter, Diana and her husband John Anderson. His grandsons, Garrett William (Krista) and Mason John (Samantha) were the greatest joy of his life, and he was so proud of the men they had become and the wonderful women they found to share their lives. He was looking forward with great anticipation to the birth of his first great-grandchild in August.

Also left to mourn his passing are his sisters, Fern Achtenberg of Shosone, Idaho and Marge Baesler of Chehalis, Washington; his brothers Murlin (Marlene) of Carl Junction, Missouri and Delbert (Delores) of Lemmon and their children, grand-children, and great grandchildren. He enjoyed a special friendship with his younger cousin, Warren Hintz, and deeply appreciated the hours they spent together talking about farming and family.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Gottfried and Tina; his sister, Claudine Garris, and an infant daughter, Stacy Lynn.

Blessed by his memory.