Maynard "Mick" Lee Hillestad, age 60, of Tea, South Dakota, passed away at Sanford USD Medical Center on October 13, 2024, from complications of diabetes. The love of his family surrounded him.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, with visitation beginning at 9:00 am, on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 5500 East 57th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57108. Interment with military honors will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Sioux Falls. A visitation with family present will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Miller Westside Chapel, 6200 W. 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57106.

Mick was a Valentine's baby, born on February 14, 1964, to James and Barbara (Quam) Hillestad in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, and returned to Sioux Falls when Mick was two. Except for a brief move to Colorado, Mick remained in and around the Sioux Falls area for the remainder of his life.

He attended Hayward Elementary School, Axtell Park Middle School, and the original Washington High School. After obtaining his general education diploma, he worked at Litton Manufacturing making microwave ovens. He enlisted in the Army National Guard and attended basic training in May of 1981 at Fort Dix in NJ. Mick remained in the military for nearly six years until he was medically discharged upon being diagnosed with diabetes. He was proud of his military service and loved to talk with other veterans about their own service.

Mick eventually followed his father into the field of plumbing where he built a successful career as a journey man and master plumber. He worked for several plumbing shops around Sioux Falls, owned his own plumbing business, and spent the last twenty years working for the City of Sioux Falls as a plumbing inspector. There wasn't a plumbing question that he didn't know the answer to.

Mick met Shelley Deuter (Westhoff) in 1984 and the two were married from 1985-1997. They shared three sons, Jade, Cody, and Dylan. He met Angie Sabella (Hillestad) in 1998 and the two were married from 2007-2022. They shared one son, Cameron.

Mick loved having his sons and their families over for his signature meal of ham and cheesy hashbrowns. He loved watching Cameron play soccer and football and was proud of each of his boys and their different and unique accomplishments. He would have done anything to help them. He loved motorcycles, snowmobiles, UTVs, and being outdoors.  He enjoyed working in his yard, riding his Polaris General around Tea and the Black Hills, hollering at his dogs, and hanging out in his garage. He was a perfectionist and was known for being a bit stubborn. He was never shy about telling you what he was thinking. Mick was quick with good advice and a silly joke and had an extraordinary smile that made his eyes sparkle. His laugh was contagious. He was genuinely interested in other people and could carry on a conversation with anyone he met.

Mick will be deeply missed by his beloved sons: Jade Hillestad (Tasia) and their children, Josee, Amelia, and Jude; Cody Hillestad (Joslynn) and their children, Athena, Isabella, Amelia, Aiden, and Adley; Dylan Hillestad (Abbey) and their son Oliver; and Cameron Hillestad; his siblings: Jeff Hillestad (Linda), Jodi Sands (Jim), Dean Hillestad, Alan Hillestad (Jen); his nieces and nephews, who all say Uncle Mickey is their favorite; Angie Hillestad; and his best friend and neighbor Bryan Treloar (Amanda).Mick will be welcomed into heaven by his parents, Jim and Barb Hillestad; his grandparents Henry and Bernice Quam and Harry and Francis Hillestad; his granddaughter, Kotah Hillestad; and his father-in-law, Gerry Ebel.

May the road rise up to meet you. May the winds be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, my friends, may God hold you in the palm of his hands.