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HAMILTON COUNTY
Educators were a big crop on this family farm
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Flying High in Hamilton County
Educators were a big crop on this family farm
By Lori Berglund
-Submitted photo
Geraldine Hillyer and Dale Hillyer, center, with their family, Derald and Dalene on the left, and Diane and Donna on the right.
WEBSTER CITY — Dale and Geraldine Hillyer never raised just corn and soybeans on their Independence Township farm east of Webster City. Nor was it all about hay and livestock. Like most family farms of the 20th century, it was all about raising the family — a new generation of self-reliant souls to go out into the world and try to make it a little better place.
Multiple generations, mainly of daughters, have been raised on this Century Farm, a large share of them becoming teachers, always focused on the future, and providing the best education for the generation at hand.
“Mom was a school teacher,” recalled Dalene Schlitter, who raised her own three daughters on the same farm. “Mom went to college in New York City, Barnard College, which is a subsidiary of Columbia University. Her older sister lived there, so she was able to live with
her and go to college. She came back to Iowa to teach, and that’s how she met my dad.”
In all, at least four generations of the family include at least a few teachers. Geraldine Hillyer managed to take time off to raise her children, and still taught music and English in several communities around Hamilton County, and elsewhere in Iowa.
Schlitter and sister Donna Foster shared the Century Farm award in 2024. A third sister, Diane Mork, inherited a farm elsewhere in Iowa. The three Hillyer sisters also have a foster brother, Derald Hammer.
The 160-acre farm and home were purchased in 1924 for $156 per acre, a price that likely worried Geraldine (Gilmore) Hillyer’s parents, Oscar and Effie (Layne) Gilmore. It would be a family effort to make the farm a success.
“Grandpa never really farmed,” Schlitter recalled. “He loved to cut down weeds, and he
had a big sickle that he hung in the garage. He also raised pigs. But as far as planting a crop, one of his sons was farming, and he would come and plant and take care of the crops.”
Dale Hillyer and Geraldine Gilmore would meet when she was teaching in southwest Iowa in the years before World War II. They married in 1940, and the three daughters started coming, one after another, soon after. In later years, fostering young Derald Hammer gave the couple the son they had always wanted.
As World War II broke out, Dale Hillyer joined the Navy and would spend much of the war stationed in California.
“In about 1945, we all came back from California, and we settled in Manson because my grandparents were still on the farm,” Schlitter said. Dale Hillyer worked for the Post Office until an opportunity came to start farming, and the growing family moved to the family farm in Hamilton County.
Sisters Dalene Schlitter, left, and Donna Foster shared the Century Farm Award for the family farm east of Webster City. Purchased by their grandparents in 1924, several generations have called the sprawling farmhouse home.
“The first winter we lived upstairs in the house because Grandma and Grandpa lived downstairs, and we shared the kitchen,” Schlitter recalled.
The large, two-story home features an open staircase in the front and an enclosed back staircase leading to the kitchen. One of the upper rooms originally served as farm storage for a very important asset — seed for the next season.
“It was called the seed room,” she said. “It had wide plank boards for the floor and they would store the seed in the wintertime. There was no heat in it.”
Growing up on the farm, Donna Foster recalled, was a delightful time, with parents who had a great zest and joy for life, and some rather spectacular hobbies.
“Dad always wanted to learn to fly,” Foster said. “Ever since he was little, that was something he wanted to do. He knew it was very expensive, but evidently Mother supported him and I think he started taking flying lessons in Pocahontas.”
After the couple moved to Webster City to start farming, Dale Hillyer had finally saved enough to buy a plane.
The Aeronca Champion, often called simply a “Champ,” was a single-engine, light plane that could hold just two people and was actually canvas covered.
“He bought it and recovered an old Aeronca Champ, and he recovered it twice,” Foster said. “That was the plane he kept at the farm.”
Of course, if he was going to keep it on the farm, he had to have a way to get it up in the sky and safely down again, so Hillyer built his own runway on the farm.
“It was wonderful,” Foster said with a warm smile. “He took many family members up for a ride, and he gave many people their first ride ever in an airplane.”
Mother Geraldine Hillyer also earned her wings. Every plane needs a co-pilot in case of emergencies, and Geraldine Hillyer took a “wife’s course” in order to learn the basics of flying and landing a plane safely in the event of an emergency.
The couple enjoyed a shared interest in a popular club of the day, known as the Flying Farmers of Iowa. Dale would serve as president and Geraldine was “Queen.”
Dale Hillyer with one of several planes he owned over years. The Webster City farmer even built his own runway at the farm for easy take-offs and landings.
The Hillyers were still flying when Foster became a teacher at the former Hilltop School in Webster City. She thought it would be great fun to let some of her students take to the skies with her dad, and Principal Bill Carroll agreed.
“Bill Carroll thought that would be a wonderful experience for these kids, and so we went out to the farm one day and they got to fly,” she said.
Foster was teaching sixth-graders at the time, and Hilltop School was not far from the farm, so the kids would have been able to recognize many landmarks on their brief flights in the skies over Hamilton County.
After the Hillyers retired and moved into Webster City, Schlitter and her husband, Arden, moved to the farm and carried on the tradition of raising corn, soybeans, and children.
While the farmland remains in the family, after her husband passed away, Schlitter decided she needed less house to care for on her own. After offering it first to family members, she sold the house and acreage to a lifelong neighbor and friend.
Who knows, one day there might even be more teachers raised in this sprawling house — and maybe even a pilot or two.
-Submitted photo
THE BROKEN ROAD SERIES
The Broken Road – Book 1
The Forgotten Road – Book 2
The
Road Home – Book 3
By Richard Paul Evans Simon & Schuster
A backpack and a few essentials was all Charles James had with him when he set off on a long walk on an old road. The result is the three-volume Broken Road series by Richard Paul Evans. The story is said to be based on a true event that Evans discovered while travelling Route 66 himself in search of a story.
Photo and Story by Lori Berglund
A Long Walk on Route 66 Broken Road series
I was really hoping to just read a little bit about Route 66, one of my bucket list road trips. Although I certainly never imagined walking it, at least not on purpose.
When I came across The Forgotten Road by Richard Paul Evans in a rack of used books, I was intrigued by the passages of roadside attractions that protagonist Charles James described in his more than 2,500-mile trek from Chicago, IL., to Santa Monica, CA, on the ‘Mother Road’ — Route 66.
As much as possible, our unlikely hero follows the original Route 66, and that’s not easy to do — much of it is gone now, rerouted, in disrepair, but never forgotten. The character of this book, Charles James, walks, because he does not know what else to do. For months, he had been haunted in his dreams of screaming, fire, sirens, and a long road before him. When the plane he was booked on crashes just as it was taking off in Chicago, he was believed to be among the dead.
But James never got on the plane. From a window in the boarding area of O’Hare International Airport, he could see the fireball that was the plane he should have been on. He could hear the sirens, and he could imagine the terror and screams of the passengers.
His persistent nightmare was playing out right before his eyes. The whole world thought he was dead — and no one seemed to mourn very much. Why not just stay dead? Why not follow whatever it was the dream was trying to tell him? He filled a pack with just the essentials, t-shirts, socks, a tent, sleep roll, lots of cash, and a handgun. He bought an old-fashioned paper map, a guide book, plenty of jerky, and bottled water, and planned to walk about 20 to 25 miles a day.
is a journey within
Now, I love to walk, but 20 miles a day, for about 100 days. That is a walk that changes a person; physically, mentally, spiritually. Charles James is ready for a change — maybe.
As I had hoped, there was plenty to learn in this volume about Route 66. In the early part of his walk, we hear about such roadside classics as the Gemini Giant in Illinois, the Cadillac Ranch in Texas, and so much more. Route 66 makes a wonderful venue for this story because it is the ‘Mother Road’ of our nation. We are a people of movers, immigrants, people who pull up stakes and start over in a new place.
But it’s not about the road. The Forgotten Road is actually the second book in Evans’ Broken Road trilogy. I came across this book first, not knowing that I was entering the story in the middle of the story. I’m sort of glad it happened that way.
The first book in the series, The Broken Road, has a bit of a darker tone. Charles James is far from a likeable character in this first volume, at least as it begins. But give him a chance. There is a reason for the darkness in his life. There is a reason he is ‘broken.’
While it’s obviously not essential to read this trilogy in order — out of order worked fine for me — but I would recommend beginning at the beginning. Get to know this man, his life, and why he walks.
After reading the second volume, I went back and found used copies of both The Broken Road, as well as the final volume, The Road Home. I have now read all three volumes, in proper order, about three times. It’s a gripping tale that speaks to me. I probably need to take a long walk. Perhaps we all do.
Author Richard Paul Evans is best known for his many Christmas books. In my opinion, he is one of the most readable writers out there. He has a conversational style that carries the reader through the story, wanting to devour page after page. You can just about finish the entire trilogy in a long weekend, simply because you can’t wait to see what happens next. This Broken Road series is, by far, my favorite work from Evans.
I think we all need a long walk at some point in our life. We are all broken, some more than others. Life has a way of beating us up. Tragically, much of it we create ourselves… most of it, most likely.
As much as I enjoyed the Route 66 references in this series, I really came to appreciate the change in our main character as its most compelling element. He suddenly had nothing but time in his life. He could listen to a waitress and not be annoyed by her story. He could talk to a migrant work farm worker as they pulled pigweed together for hours on end. He could listen to the cacophony of snoring in a homeless shelter.
Charles James does not take the easy road on Route 66. There are many diversions. He learned to listen along the way. It’s tragic that we don’t take time to listen, really listen, to the people we encounter from day to day.
Perhaps if the world thought we were dead, we could finally live the life that our dreams are speaking to us.
As summer begins, take a walk with Richard Paul Evans and Charles James along historic Route 66. Fill a backpack with the Broken Road trilogy, pack some snacks and water, and go for a walk. When you’re tired, find a shade tree, sit down on a blanket, and read.
Listen to the people around you.
It’s never too late to get your kicks on Route 66.
Once a novelty in select stores, rotisserie chicken is now ubiquitous in supermarkets and other food centers. People are drawn to rotisserie chickens by flavor and convenience. Hot and ready to serve, rotisserie chicken makes for a quick and easy meal when time is of the essence and people don’t want to spend on dining out at a nearby restaurant.
Rotisserie chicken can be served right out of the container just like a traditional roasted chicken. It also can be a component in many different meals. Consider these 10 ideas for putting rotisserie chicken to use.
1. After most of the meat from the chicken is eaten, boil the carcass with sliced onion, parsnips, carrots, turnips, and your preferred herbs to make a soup stock. Add bits of leftover chicken and noodles to have a delicious chicken soup.
2. Purchase premade pie crust and use it to line small ramekins. Mix chopped rotisserie chicken with a can of cream of chicken soup and thawed frozen mixed vegetables. Spoon the mixture on top of the bottom crust, then top with another crust round, poking venting holes in the pastry. Heat up until the crust browns and the filling is piping hot. The result is a delicious chicken pot pie.
3. Rotisserie chicken can be used as the filling for enchiladas, fajitas, and tacos. Simply season with a packet of taco seasoning or make your own blend from a combination of paprika, chili powder and cumin.
4. Pulse rotisserie chicken meat in a food processor with celery, dill and a few dollops of mayonnaise or even Greek yogurt or ranch salad dressing. Add some crumbled bacon and serve the chicken salad between slices of toasted whole wheat bread.
5. Shred the rotisserie chicken and blend together with melted butter and hot sauce to make it Buffalo-style. Use it as a topping for pizza served with a blue-cheese sauce on the crust.
6. Add pieces of rotisserie chicken to omelettes and top with melted cheese for a savory breakfast or brunch option.
7. Rotisserie chicken chunks can be added to any of your favorite casserole recipes in lieu of fresh chicken.
8. Make mac-and-cheese a more substantial meal by mixing in shredded rotisserie chicken.
9. Recreate “chicken bog,” a traditional South Carolina dish made from chicken cooked in broth and rice to make a thick and creamy meal.
10. Create a chicken stir-fry with the rotisserie chicken, Asian vegetables and seasonings. Serve over glass rice noodles.
These are just a few of the many different ways to utilize rotisserie chicken in everyday cooking.
LANDMARKS
How well DO YOU know Hamilton County?
Look at these photos and see if you can identify these local landmarks.
Photo No. 1: Church of Christ, 900 Des Moines Street, Webster City
No Winner Last Month
Photo No. 2: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1000 Willson Avenue, Webster City
Photo #1
Photo
SAVVY SENIOR
by Jim Miller
Essential Legal Documents
All Seniors Should Have
Dear Savvy Senior , What kinds of legal documents do I need to help my family take care of me in my elder years? I would like to get my affairs in order but could use some help.
Approaching 80
Dear Approaching,
All adults, especially an older adult like yourself, should have at least five legal documents to protect yourself and your family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your health care providers if you become seriously ill or when you die. Here are the key documents you need, along with some tips to help you create them.
Durable Power of Attorney: This document allows you to designate someone you trust to handle your financial affairs if you become incapacitated.
Advance Directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. The two documents are a “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated. And a “health care power of attorney” (or health care proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable. To complement your advance directive, you should also consider getting a Physician Orders for LifeSustaining Treatment – see POLST.org. This is a state specific form that your doctor would fill out that translates your end-of-life wishes into medical orders to ensure your wishes are carried out.
A Will: This lets you spell out your wishes of how you’d like your property and assets distributed after you die, whether it’s to family, friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out and allows you to name guardians if you have dependent children.
In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a “revocable living trust.” This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you die) and helps ensure your estate’s privacy.
HIPPA Release: This form gives your healthcare provider permission to discuss your medical care and medical bills with those you designate. You may need specific HIPAA release forms for each medical professional or health care establishment you deal with.
Do-It-Yourself
If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are do-it-yourself resources that can help you create all these documents for a few hundred dollars. Some top-rated options to consider include Quicken WillMaker & Trust software (see WillMaker.com), Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com) and Legal Zoom (LegalZoom.com).
Get Help
If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases – especially when writing a will or living trust – which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.
Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for a basic estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney and advance directive. If you want your estate plan to include a living trust, that can run anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC.org) are two good resources that have directories on their websites to help you find someone in your area.
If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral.
PartingShot
