Mitchell Scott Hillman

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Mitchell Scott Hillman, who left us too soon on January 21st, 2026.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Long Prairie on Friday, January 30th, 2026, at 11 am, with a visitation one hour prior, also at the church.
Mitch was born on January 21st, 1986 to Scott and Jill Hillman and welcomed home by his sisters Nikki and Heather. While growing up in Long Prairie he enjoyed playing golf, pond hockey, basketball in the driveway and video games with his friends. While in high school he worked as a lifeguard at our local beach, Cenex, and Ace Hardware. After graduating high school in 2004 he enlisted in the United States Army and served until 2007. In later years he enjoyed working out and training for marathons and triathalons and spending time with his faithful dog Ruddy.
The Army chapter of his life shaped him in many ways both visible and unseen. He carried strength, discipline, loyalty and the scars that very few truly understood. He wore an engraved bracelet on his left wrist of his best army buddy Shaun Novak, killed in action August 27th, 2006 from an IED. He also had Shaun’s and the other soldiers’ names tattooed on his arm who were killed that day. The other arm had “FAMILY” tattooed on it. Those tattoos tell his story – his determination to keep others remembered and his deep love for family.
In 2008 Mitch received his degree from St. Cloud State University and accepted a job shortly after at the St. Cloud VA in medical records. He later transferred to the Minneapolis VA and then moved on to HUD (Housing and Urban Development) in downtown Minneapolis until 2017.
During the above time he married Diandra Petron and though life had other plans, after their divorce the friendship and love always remained.
Mitch was clever and quick-witted, with a mind that moved faster than most and a humor that could cut through heaviness without trying too hard. He had a way of seeing things differently and finding the angle others missed, making life feel a little lighter in the process. He had an outrageous sense of humor, a magnetic personality, and a gift for turning ordinary moments into unforgettable memories. He lived to push limits and chase adventure and encouraged those around him to do the same. Beneath his larger than life spirit was a deeply caring heart. Mitch loved big, felt deeply and showed up for the people he cared about. He was a son, brother, and friend who mattered deeply and will be missed more than words can say.
The struggles he carried were a part of his story but it is not the whole of him. He was loved, he mattered, he still does and will forever. We will remember him, not for how he died, but for who he was and that is what will hold a place in our hearts. We will remember him for his sharp mind. He was always up for a friendly or not so friendly game of trivial pursuit and loved a good debate. His gentle heart and playful intelligence will be missed every day. Even though his life ended far too soon it was full of meaningful moments, laughter that lingered, and a love that ran deeper than he often led on.
Mitch is survived by his parents Scott and Jill, sisters Nikki (Bruce Rohde) and Heather (Mike Seminitis), nieces Hattie and Vanessa Rohde, nephew Gus Seminitis, nieces Stevie, Vayda, and Edda Seminitis, Grandma Leora Hillman, many aunts, uncles and cousins and his dog Ruddy.
Mitch is preceded in death by his grandfathers Gene Hillman and Edward Prill, grandmother Irene Prill, uncles Bill Hillman and Gordy Lien, and aunts Sheloa Hillman and Yvonne Hillman.