Memorial service will be 2:30pm Sunday, March 30, 2025 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, St. Peter with visitation beginning at 1:00pm. Burial will be at a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. A livestream of the service can be seen at www.saintpeterfueralhome.com.

Don was born June 6, 1931 at the Union Hospital, New Ulm, MN to Otto Karl and Laura Wilhelmine Caroline (Schmidt) Hildebrandt, Gaylord, MN.

He was the eldest of nine children, baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, ALCA, Gaylord, MN. He attended District 9, Country School in Sibley County for eight years and graduated from Gaylord High School in 1949.

In February of 1952, Don received a letter from “Uncle Sam” stating, “Your friends and neighbors have selected you to serve in the United States Army. His wish was to travel to Germany but he received his permanent location in the 84t Tank Battalion, Fort Knox, KY as a Tank Crew Member Instructor for two years. On his first leave in November 21, 1952, he became engaged to Gerry (Geraldine) Reed and they married September 6, 1953 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, MN. He was discharged in February 1954 and received his honorable discharge March 31, 1960 as Cpl (E-4) ER 55-228-359 Armor, USA.

Don attended HANSON TRADING SCHOOL, Fargo, North Dakota from March 8, 1954 until December 24, 1954. He attended Mankato State Plumbing and Heating and received his certificate in Plumbing and Heating. He then moved his family to Lafayette, MN where he worked for Johnson Plumbing and Heating in Lafayette, MN for ten years. He returned to Gaylord, MN and worked for USDA, Soil Conservation Service as a technician being transferred to SCS (Soil Conservation Service) Department in Faribault County; purchased a home and moved their family to Blue Earth, MN in 1966. In 1973 he began working for the 3M Company in Fairmont as a Maintenance Mechanic. After staying with this company for 20 years he retired June 1, 1993. After retirement he worked part time as a groundskeeper at St. Luke’s Lutheran Home, Blue Earth, MN until he and Gerry purchased a home and moved to St. Peter, MN in November 1997.

He was talented in wood working and could fix anything that was broken. In 1998, he and Gerry traveled to Pharr, TX for six weeks to see if that area could become their winter home. They enjoyed their time in TX consequently stayed for three months every year.

He was proud to be the Commander at the Blue Earth American Legion post 89 as well as a member of the St. Peter, MN American Legion # 37. He also was an elder for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, MN for 31 years.

He is survived by the love of his life Gerry, his three children: Allen (Mary Bredemeier) Hildebrandt, Kandy (Dr. Michael) Fraley and Terence “Terry” (Carolyn Tyree) Hildebrandt. 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren. Also Brother Roger and Sisters Marlene, Lolly and Darla.

He was preceded in death by his Father and Mother, Otto Karl and Laura (Wilhelmine Caroline Schmidt),Hildebrandt, brothers, Charles, Arlen, Maynard, Jerry, brothers-in-law Mervin Reed, Paul Kloeckl, sisters-in-law Marlis, Jean, Lynda Hildebrandt. Mother and father in-law Verna Havemeier Reed Glock and Edward Glock, father-in-law Chester Reed.

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