Dale Hillger, 66, of Garden City, died on Friday, May 6, 2005, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, May 9, 2005, at the St. Lawrence Catholic Church with Rev. Tom Barley, pastor of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Wall, officiating. Interment will follow at Garden City Cemetery at 1:00 PM. A Vigil/Rosary service will be held at 7:00 PM Sunday, May 8, 2005 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.The family will receive friends from 5 PM to 7 PM, Saturday, at the funeral home.Born on August 9, 1938, in Big Spring, Texas, Dale was a 5th generation Hillger to live continuously in Glasscock County. His family settled in Glasscock County in 1893. He married JoAnn Deiterman in 1958 and lived in San Diego. After being discharged in 1960 from the United States Navy, he came home to farm and ranch with his father. He and his family worked on various farms and ranches until he bought a farm in St. Lawrence. The family lived there for 24 years and raised three wonderful children. In 1999, he sold the farm and built a new home in Garden City where they retired in 2000.Dale never met anyone he did not like or anyone who did not like him. His infectious smile and easygoing ways just made you feel like you had known him all your life. He never sweated the small stuff, never let anything bring him down. His attitude was always upbeat and he fought a courageuos battle with cancer for over five years and was always in good spirits. He laughed, loved, hoped, dreamed, and believed till he received the ultimate invitation from God to live with him in paradise for eternity. Dale was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.Survivors include his wife, JoAnn Hillger; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Nancy Hillger and Scott and Andrea Hillger; one daughter and son-in-law, Dana and Brian Cook; six grandsons, Justin Hillger, Brian Hillger, Darren Hillger, Trey Hillger, Kevin Hillger and Marcus Cook; one granddaughter, Britni Cook, all of Garden City; a sister and brother-in-law, Anna Lee and Paul Sims of Greenwood; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Leta Hillger of Greenwood, and David and Debbie Hillger of Big Spring; one sister-in-law and brother-in – law, Betty and Jerry Tanner of San Angelo; and numerous nieces, nephews and close friends, especially, Leon and JoAnn Halfmann, Vicki, Kenny and Leslie Batla.Pallbearers will be Mark Halfmann, Larry Halfmann, Kenneth Kuethe, Dennis Fuchs, Michael Fuchs, Allen Fuchs, Jimmy Smith and Alvin Powell. Honorary Pallbearers will be Leon Halfmann, Ervin Wooten, Paul Sims, Jerry Tanner, Steve Long, Butch Halfmann and all grandsons.The family suggest memorials be sent to: the American Cancer Society Memorial Program, % Lucy Bonner, P.O. Box 2121. Big Spring, TX 79720-2121; Home Hospice, 111 E. 7th Ste. A, Big Spring, TX 79720 or West Texas Boys Ranch, 10223 Boys Ranch Road, San Angelo, TX 76904-9989Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
