David Hilde, age 93, of Fargo, ND, passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Sanford Fargo Hospice House in Fargo.

David Jerome Hilde was born November 18, 1932 to parents Melvin G. and Myrtle (Wang) Hilde at home on the farm near Ulen, MN. No one went to a birthing hospital in those days! Dave grew up on farm helping with household chores, farm chores and gardening. The Ulen area was settled by immigrants from Norway, including both his paternal and maternal grandparents. Dave grew up learning Norwegian at home and English in school and became very proficient in both languages.

Dave attended grade school and one year of high school in Ulen, MN. After his mother's death in 1939 and lack of dependable housekeepers in the years thereafter, his father arranged for Dave and his younger brother, Donnie, to live with their, Aunt Gida Hilde Berry, in Orange, CA in 1947.
He graduated from Orange High School in 1950 and attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA for one year. In the fall of 1951, Dave transferred to the University of Minnesota, College of Agriculture in St. Paul, MN. In December of 1953, he received his military draft notice and received basic training in Ft. Riley, KS and military police training in Ft. Gordon, GA. Dave served as a Military Policeman in Ft. Rucker, AL and Ft. Benning, GA. He served two years on active duty and six years in the inactive reserve and was proud to serve his country.

Dave returned to the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1955 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1956. He continued his education towards a Master's degree in Soil Science. During the summer months he worked for the U of M Soils Department, mapping soils in Crow Wing County MN headquartering in Brainerd, MN. In the fall of 1957, Dave returned the University pickup truck back to the St. Paul Campus and took a bus back to Brainerd to get his car. The bus was very crowded but there was one seat left in the rear and he sat next to a very pretty young lady. He said his name was Dave Hilde and was going to Brainerd to get his car and then on to Ulen, MN. She said her name was Lori Howe and that she missed the first bus so she took the second bus going to Brainerd. They had a pleasant conversation which prompted him to offer Lori a ride back to Minneapolis. She took him up on the offer which led to future dates back in Minneapolis. Dave completed the requirements for a Master of Science degree in March 1958. Dave and Lori were married April 19, 1958 in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Backus, MN. The couple was blessed with three children, Mark, Sandra and Lisa.

Dave and Lori's first home was in Lewisville, MN where he worked as Assistant Manager of the Tilney Farms. In 1962, Dave was offered a job as Research Agronomist at American Crystal Sugar Company in East Grand Forks, MN. This was the beginning of a career that lasted for 37 years. Dave learned all the phases of sugarbeet production including 15 years as an Agriculturist in the Gilby, Forest River and Minto, ND growing areas. In 1979, Dave was promoted to General Agronomist at the Corporate Office in Moorhead, MN. At this time, the Agriculture Department was researching a new payment system based on recoverable sugar per ton for each individual grower. The present system was based on tons per acre for each grower with an average sugar content of the entire Red River Valley crop. Dave's responsibility was to develop agronomic recommendations for growing high tonnage crops with high sugar contents. An excess of nitrogen lowers sugar content. Dave had to convince growers to reduce the amount of nitrogen from 170 lbs. per acre to 120 lbs. per acre. This was based on research by NDSU and the University of Minnesota. He used a bible verse out of context to make his point, as follows: "For what will it profit a beet if it gains all the nitrogen, but loses its own sugar". The quality payment system increased grower payments by many millions of dollars over the old system.

Dave retired from American Crystal Sugar Company in 1997. Dave and Lori liked to travel and visited many states including Hawaii. They were also "snowbirds" and spent winters in California. In July 1998, Dave and Lori went on a five week trip to Norway. They visited the area near Eidsberg, Norway where Loris grandparents lived before immigrating to America. From there they travelled to Flå Hallingdal to visit Dave's relatives. They saw the places that his grandparents lived before they came to America. Dave and Lori belonged to the Hallinglag of America and took three more trips to Norway. This included a special trip in 2006 when they took their three children, Mark, Sandra and Lisa. A Family Trip of a lifetime!

When Dave was growing up in the 1930's, his parents had a 1925 Model T Ford car and a 1918 Model T Ford one ton truck. He had many fond memories of the Model T's and when an opportunity came to purchase one, he grabbed it! Dave's favorite was a 1915 Model T Ford Roadster pickup and he'd often say: "I have to go out to the farm today and play with my toys!"

Dave and Lori belonged to the Sons of Norway Lodge in Fargo, ND and enjoyed many lutefisk suppers there! Dave also belonged to American Legion Post in Moorhead, MN. Dave and Lori were active members of Hope Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. Their faith in Jesus was an important part of their lives. They were married for 67 years before Lori was called to heaven in 2025.

Dave is survived by his children: Mark (Catherine) Hilde, Sandra (Jeff) Kopp and Lisa (Wayne) Howard; seven grandchildren: John Howard, Makala Kopp, Jessica Howard, Emily Kopp, Josiah Kopp, Sierra Kopp and Davin Hilde: great grandchildren: Ella, Esme, Miles and Silas Nordick. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Leslie and Victor Hilde; sisters-in-law: Irene, Merna and Kaye Hilde and his loving wife, Lori Hilde.

A funeral service will be held Friday, September 11, 2026 at 1:00pm, with a visitation one hour prior, at the Hope Lutheran Church-North Campus in Fargo.