Linda Hiermeier
Linda G. Hiermeier was born at St. John’s Hospital in Rapid City, S.D., Jan. 10, 1943, to Florance A. (Davis) and Roy C. Belmont, the seventh of eight children. She grew up in Hill City, S.D., and graduated from Hill City High School. Linda graduated from Green’s Beauty School in Rapid City and worked at Kurly Lox for 15 years in Custer, S.D.
On May 23, 1964, she married her soulmate, Melvin A. Hiermeier, and helped raise his three sons. They were married 49 years.
She was a wonderful grandmother whose capacity for love seemed to have no end. At the age of 32 Linda took her two grandsons, age 7 and 5, and raised them as her own until the boys were in junior high school. As the family grew, they all became part of Hiermeier Trucking.
Linda’s hands were rarely still. Her summers were spent gardening and keeping her yard looking beautiful. For many years, she shared her love through hours of cooking and preparing for large family gatherings. She was the heart of the home. All the holidays were important to Linda, but Easter was always very special. Her Easter dinner and egg hunt on Hiermeier Hill were truly legendary and loved by all who attended.
Her greatest joy was her family and she cherished her time spent watching them grow into the people they are today.
Linda lived a life of service to others and loved supporting her community. She spent many summers helping with Custer’s Gold Discovery Days, especially the rainbow portion of The Pageant of Paha Sapa. Linda also spent years as a volunteer for the ambulance service in Custer.
Linda’s legacy wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t pay homage to her cooking. It seemed anything she made was delicious, most notably her homemade Christmas candies. Her peanut brittle was a favorite holiday treat her boys loved helping with. Linda passed on her cooking skills to all who wanted to learn.
She was an amazing woman, wife, aunt, sister, mother, grandmother and friend. Her sense of humor and deep care for others will be truly missed.
Linda died Dec. 28, 2019, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. She was 76.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin; two grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two brothers; and two sisters.
Linda is survived by the three sons, Rodney “Butch,” Melvin K. “Rick” (Betty Jo) and Ronald “Ronnie”; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Nadine (Ed) Henschel of Martin, S.D.; brother, Bill (Gail) Belmont of Rozet, Wyo.; and many nieces and nephews.
Christian funeral vigil will be 7 p.m., Jan. 10 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer.
Christian funeral mass will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 11 at St. John the Baptist Church with Christian funeral committal following at the Pringle (S.D.) Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Pringle Fire Department and Cemetery Association.