Obituary of Alex Hilliar
The family of Alex Hilliar of Melville and formerly of Homefield, beloved husband of the late Clara Hilliar, sadly announces his passing on June 19, 2026.
Alex Hilliar was born on Dec. 14,1932 near Tugaske, Sask. He was the 5th oldest of 10 siblings. He departed this life on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the age of 93 at St Paul’s Lutheran Home, Melville.
When Alex was 3 1/2 years old, the family moved south of Ituna to begin a homestead. Because of the dirty 30s, Alex and two younger siblings had to go live with an Aunt and Uncle in Selkirk, Manitoba.
At the age of 7, Alex moved back to Ituna to the homestead where he received his education at the Fill Hills School. When he was asked about his education, he would always say: "In one door and out the other."
At the age of 15, Alex began working with the Department of Highways, looking after the 310 highways from Ituna to Balcarres. With his first job, he had purchased half a section of land with his older brother Earl. He continued to work on the farm which became a mix of farm crops and cattle. In 1959 Alex had lost his brother Earl in a farm accident and for the 6 months after took this very hard. In the fall of 1960, he was building his cattle herd. He found a farmer at Homefield, Sask. that had some cattle for sale. This is where he found the girl of his dreams Clara.
Alex and Clara were married Feb. 11, 1961. This is when Alex decided to sell the ½ section south of Ituna and take over Clara's dads homestead near Homefield Sask. Alex and Clara were blessed with 2 daughters, Sandra and Shirley.
Alex started his career with the PFRA which would last for 33 years. He did a number of things with this job, including clearing bush in the winter, to seeding in the spring, custom haying in the summer, plus helped out with taking in cattle to round up in the fall. Alex was on a PFRA fencing crew, this job took dad all over the province plus into Manitoba and Alberta.
He was also employed at the Parkland Auction Barn at Leross for a few years with Murray and the boys on sale days and cow sales, loading and sorting cattle. Alex raised pure bread hogs from 1973 to fall of 1989.
In 1994, Alex was forced to retire from the PFRA due to health issues. Alex continued to farm and looked after his cattle. He was always there to lend a helping hand.
In 2021, Alex and Clara decide to sell the farm and moved into Caleb Village in Melville. After Clara passed away in 2022, Alex was so lost. His health started to decline. In the spring of 2023 Alex went to live in the nursing home in Kamsack, which he enjoyed the fellowship and loved the music. But he missed his girls, so in August he moved to the Ituna Nursing Home. In June of 2024, Alex was moved to St Paul Lutheran Home in Melville. On Friday, June 19th, 2026, was our final goodbye.
Alex was predeceased by his wife Clara, daughter Geraldine (infancy) his dad and mom Harold and Christina Hilliar, Grandson Dwayne and Son-In-Law Norman Walker. Brothers Earl and Joe Hilliar. Sisters Muriel (John) Korinetz, Irena (Joe) Korinetz, Margie (Gilbert) Garner. Sister-In-Law Pat (Arnold) Fletcher and Gladys McLellan. Brother in laws Ed Zutz, George Muirhead, Nephew Kelvin Korinetz, plus numerous aunts and uncles.
Alex leaves behind to cherish his memory: two daughters Sandra Walker (Ernie Potyondi) of Fenwood, Shirley (Herb) Lemaire of Melville; his 9 grandchildren, Kim Walker, Linda (Chad) Anhalt of Yorkton, Joanna (Kenny) Martin of Rhein, Herbert and Frank (Amanda) of Fenwood, John (Desiree) Walker of Lemberg, Matthew (Allicia) Walker of Melville, Travis (Lanina) Lemaire, and Lindsey (Harley) Hahn of Melville. His eleven great-grandchildren, Kendra and Trinity Walker, Andrew, Jesse, and Tanner Anhalt, Tyler, Jeremy, Ashley and Aspen Martin, and Elizabeth and Maddison Walker, plus, extended family members, including nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Service was held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey, Certified Celebrant officiating. Shirley Lemaire delivered the eulogy. Lindsey Hahn read a poem. The interment followed in the Garden of St. John, Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Sandra Walker and Shirley Lemaire serving as urn bearers. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Heart & Stroke as gifts of remembrance.
