Sharon Hilbrands

Sharon Diane Hilbrands, 81, formerly of Clara City, died Tuesday, December 30th at Renvilla Health Services. Her funeral service will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Bethany Church in Clara City. Visitation will be one hour prior to her service. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Clara City, www.hafh.org

Sharon's service will be livestreamed on Bethany's YouTube page ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcjvd-g0M1q55KwKez08hmw/videos )

Sharon Diane (Smith) Hilbrands was born on September 12, 1944, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Minnesota, to John and Virginia Smith. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church of Sparta Township.

Sharon attended Country School in District 7, located two miles from her home, and later graduated from Montevideo High School, known as "The Mohicans." She helped her parents with cattle and baling hay, alongside her brother Dale, earning an allowance that started at 25 cents a week and gradually increased to one dollar. After graduating, she worked at the REA in Montevideo.

On September 5, 1964, Sharon was united in marriage to Leonard. They lived on the home farm five miles north of Clara City, where they raised their two children, Lisa and Terry. Sharon helped with the farming, but her greatest pride was her work with the family businesses: Hilbrands Auctioneering and Hilbrands Real Estate & Appraisals.

Sharon was very active in her church, Bethany Reformed Church, where she faithfully taught Sunday School and Catechism for many years. She made numerous quilts at church, volunteered her time at the Clara City nursing home making lefse, and often brought residents along on outings.

Sharon's humor and laid-back spirit were matched by her simple advice to always "make do."

Sharon enjoyed traveling, including trips to Alaska and Hawaii, spending winters in Florida, and most of all visiting Germany, where cousin Uwe Hilbrands lived. Uwe also stayed with Sharon and Leonard when he traveled to Minnesota.

After Leonard retired from farming, they moved to town in 1998.

Sharon deeply loved her family and friends, and cherished time spent with them, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She looked forward to birthday parties with the country girls each year.

Sharon is survived by her children, Lisa (Todd) Fitzner of Renville and Terry (Paige) Hilbrands of Clara City and Florida; her grandchildren, Shane (Kayla) Fitzner, Ashley (Brennan) Poderzay, and Josh (Aimee) Hilbrands; and her eight great-grandchildren: Carson, Beckham, Ariya, Dax, Lydie, Peyton, Hailee, and Harper. She is also survived by her brothers- and sisters-in-law: Donna Hilbrands; Lyle and Cindy Hilbrands; Lowell Hilbrands; Bill and Lavonne Hilbrands; and Denise Smith; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; her parents, John and Virginia; her brother, Dale; her nephew, Brent Hilbrands; her in-laws, Clarence and Marilyn Boike; and Floyd Hilbrands.

Sharon’s family is deeply grateful to the staff of Renvilla Nursing Home for the loving care, compassion & friendship they provided mom.

Mom is safe in the arms of Jesus. Blessed be her memory.

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