Eric L Hilding

Eric Lynn Hilding, 66, was born in Chanute, Kansas. September 19, 1950. He passed at home in Montrose while his friends and family were close by. He was one of two boys born to Harold and Marie Hilding in Chanute Kansas. Later, the family moved to Wichita where Eric attended catholic schools and graduated from Chaplin Kapaun Memorial High School. During his elementary and High School years is where he met several lifelong friends. Two of them were with him when he died.

After graduating High School, he attended Cowley County Junior college in Arkansas City, KS on a football and wrestling scholarship. There, he made two other lifelong friends. He then attended Kansas State University in Manhattan Kansas, where he earned graduate and post graduate degrees. In between his years of college, he spent several summers in Alaska working on fishing boats and in canaries to earn money to fulfill his dream of traveling around the world. Olympian accomplishments include hitch hiking from Wichita Kansas to Los Angeles, California and spending only $1.25. He fulfilled his dream of traveling around the world, but came home with more money than he left with.

After getting his master’s degree in geography, he moved to Chadron Nebraska where he took his first teaching position and met his wife Kathy. They married in 1982. Eric and Kathy lived in Keenesburg Colorado, Greeley, and finally came to Montrose Colorado after the birth of their son Graehme. Eric was the Middle School Vice Principal at Columbine Middle School. He eventually became the Principal at Olathe Middle School and retired in 2004. His early retirement allowed him to spend quality time with his son Graehme, maintain a 25-acre farm, and do other seasonal part time jobs. Eric was a goal oriented individual that achieved what he set out to do despite the obstacles. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the Salvation Army, 514 S. First Street, Montrose, Co. 81401