Visitation: Visitation, with family present, will be Thursday, March 20 from 5-7 p.m. 

Service: Celebration of John’s Life will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, SD. A private family burial will take place prior to the service.

  John Hilt, 92, passed away on Wednesday March 12, 2025, surrounded by his family.  A Celebration of John’s Life will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, SD.  Visitation, with family present, will be Thursday, March 20 from 5-7 p.m.  A private family burial will take place prior to the service.

John was born in Los Angeles, California and was the oldest of his three brothers and one sister.  John worked at his family’s Dairy farm until his teen years when the family moved to the Canton/Inwood area.

     John joined the Army and served during the Korean Conflict.  He married Anna Dean Overweg and enlisted in the US Airforce.  They were blessed with four daughters.  John and his family moved back to the Canton area where he worked at the Canton Co-op, Deinema Ford, and was a Canton Police officer for a short time.  He also worked at the Canton Sale Barn for several years. Making many friends in all his years.

     John enlisted in the SD Air National Guard where he served as an avionics electronics technician on fighter jets.  He retired in 1989.  Post retirement John worked as a general handyman as well as operating a lawn care service.  He was a familiar fixture in Canton and would often be seen in his restored green 1950 Chevrolet pick-up.  John is responsible for most of the restoration of the caboose located behind the restored Canton Depot on 5^th street.  He is a member of the Canton VFW and is a past post commander.

John was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Josina, his wife Anna Dean, two daughters, Tamera Hilt and Rhonda Hilt Kidd, brothers Arie and Raymond Hilt, and great-granddaughter Josie Windschill.

     John enjoyed the last several years living in the Tucson, Arizona area with his fiancée Elaine Surdez.  John and Elaine moved back to Canton in 2024 to be closer to his daughters and the rest of his family.

Grateful to have shared his life are his daughters, Anna Marie Mundt (Jerry), Canton, SD, and Lavonna Lems (Tim), Beloit, IA;  his fiancée, Elaine Surdez, Canton, SD; son-in-law, David Kidd, Denver, CO; grandchildren Tamera Mundt Davis (Lennie), Tokyo, Japan, Sara Mundt Nelson (Brad), Sioux Falls, Stephanie Kidd Furley (Jason), Sioux Falls, Jonathan Kidd (Pricilla Luhan), Denver, CO, Jason Mundt (Ashley), Luverne, MN, Emily Lems Souvignier (Ted), Canton, and Molly Lems Larsgaard (Andy), Canton; 13 great-grandchildren; and siblings Charlie Hilt (Pearl), and Betty Garcia (Ken) all of Canton.  John will be missed by all.