Barry Hillestad, 67, Waubay, died May 23, 2025 at his home in Waubay.
Funeral services will be June 2, 10:30 a.m. at Webster Armory. Burial will be at Lake Campbell Lutheran Cemetery in Volga.
Visitation will be June 1, 4-7 p.m. at Webster Armory.
Barry Hillestad was born May 7, 1958 in Brookings to Clark and Alvina “Dolly” (Hammond) Hillestad. He graduated from Sioux Valley High School in 1976 and Mitchell Tech in 1978 in agricultural marketing and management.
He married Rita Anna in 1982 who died 1985.
He married Norma Jean Fagin in 1988.
He served in law enforcement for 24 years including as sheriff of Day County for three terms. He was appointed interim sheriff of Roberts County, serving for two years. He retired in 2021. Two of the accomplishments that he was most proud of were helping to form the Memorial Assistance Response Team (MART) and serving as President of the South Dakota Sheriff’s Association in 2016.
He enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids, hunting with his son Jon and close friends from Michigan, and working on projects with his close friend and neighbor Bob Wright.
He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Merchant; children, Jennifer and Eddie Allison- Myers, Jonathan and Danica Hillestad, Skye and Carver Strandberg; grandchildren, Micah Allison, Lily Myers, Anaka Myers, Joseph Hillestad and Vera Strandberg; nephew, Dan and Amy Merchant; niece, Tracy Bezesky; former wife, Norma Jean Fagin; close friend Dawn Kim Van Hoepen; great nieces and nephews, friends and colleagues.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clark and Alvina “Dolly” Hillestad; sister, Wanda Hillestad; first wife, Rita (Anna) Hillestad; brother-in-law, Dennis Merchant; nephewin- law, Dave Bezesky; as well as numerous law enforcement brothers and sisters, family and friends.