Ronald Lee Hilt

Ronald Lee Hilt, son of Wayne Curtis Hilt and Vinita Olevia (Sluder) Hilt, was born Sep. 27, 1944, in Wright County, Missouri, and departed this life, May 28, 2025. He was 80 years, 8 months and 1 day of age. He was the third born of four children and grew up attending school in Norwood graduating with the class of 1962. On May 22, 1965, he married Lana Jean Farr and to this union three children were born. Ron retired from the Missouri Department of Transportation in 2006, where he was responsible for road signs. Even in these last days he could still tell you every road and where it would lead.  In his life he worked for the Missile Base in Wichita Kansas, painted cars for General Motors in Kansas City, drove a delivery truck for Frisco, drove semi-trucks, feed trucks, snowplows, etc... if it had wheels, he could drive it. In his day, he was a giant of a man with bear paws for hands and had a firm grip. He always enjoyed conversation and a good practical joke. He was well known for singing a horrible rendition of Happy Birthday to those he wanted to tease.  He loved watching his son and grandsons play football and was a lifetime Kansas City Chiefs fan. He was an avid car enthusiast and had a few classics that he restored and would take to car shows. However, his favorite pastime was visiting with friends and family.  He loved a good reunion and gathering everyone to his home for holidays. Ron accepted Christ as an adult and was baptized. He attended more than 40 years at Calvary Temple Church in Mountain Grove. Currently, he attended Dawson Assembly of God in Dawson, Missouri. We are so grateful to the Dawson Assembly Pastor Wayne “Smiley” and Tonya Martin and the congregation who welcomed and supported both Ron and Lana during these last years of his life. The family would also like to thank the Hospice Compassus team for their demonstration of genuine love and concern.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Vinita Hilt; paternal grandfather, Frank Hilt; maternal grandparents, Fred and Mollie Sluder; one sister, Janice Ault and husband, Ted; one brother, Jerald Hilt and wife, Sharon; one niece, Rhonda (Ault) McKeehan; his father-in-law and mother- in-law, Claude and Sybil (Day) Farr; one brother-in-law, Clayton Farr and  wife, Thelma; and one sister-in-law and her infant son, Theresa (Farr) and Jonathan Hardin. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lana (Farr) Hilt; one son, Vince Hilt; two daughters, Leslie Akers and husband, Kelly, and Lori Hilt, all of Mountain Grove; three grandsons, Brandon Hilt, of Glenwood Springs, Colo.; Seth Akers and wife, Allison, of Fort Meyers, Fla.; and Hunter Saba, of Mountain Grove;  two granddaughters, Erin Rodgers and husband, Kaleb, of Vanzant, and Tanis Hilt, of Ozark; one great-grandson, Everett Rodgers; and one soon to be great-granddaughter, Isla Grace Akers; one brother, Van Hilt and wife, Jo, of Amory, Miss.; an honorary sister since childhood, Donna Bruffett and her husband, Gary, of Norwood; two sisters-in-law, Becky Street and husband, Verdin, of Fordland, and June Jones and husband, Gayland, of Macomb; two brothers-in-law, Austin Farr and wife, Gwen, of Wilmington, N.C., and Winston Farr and wife, Debbie, of Hartville; along with a host of other family and friends who will miss him. Visitation for Ron Hilt was held Friday, May 30, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home – Mountain Grove. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Wayne “Smiley” Martin officiating. Song selections were “Angel Band,” “One More Valley,” and “Twelve Gates To The City,” sung by Tonya Martin, Joe Friend, and Terry Friend, accompanied by Shelby Atchley on piano. Serving as pallbearers were Brandon Hilt, Hunter Saba, Kaleb Rodgers, Kelly Akers, Von Farr, Brent Halford and Jeff Ault. Honorary pallbearers were Seth Akers, Danny Jones and Gary Bruffett. Burial was in the Hillcrest Cemetery at Mountain Grove, under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Dawson Assembly of God Building Fund. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.