Stan attended New Harmony grade school and one year of Clinton High School, after which demands of the family farm required him to start his work career.
At age 18 Stan enlisted in the United States Navy, hoping to be assigned to the Seabees, as an interest in construction was beginning to take root in him. Instead, he was assigned to the Destroyer USS Eversole, and was deployed in the Pacific near the end of the Korean War. Although he didn’t receive his first choice of assignment, Stan had great pride in his time on board, and a portrait of the “Eversole” hangs in his home office today.
Stan returned to Clinton after his service to continue work on the family farm. He married Lovella Smart in 1961, lived on the farm south of Clinton, until the farm was purchased by the United States Government as reservoir space for Truman Dam. Stan and Lovella purchased and moved with their two young sons to a cattle ranch, along Turkey Creek southeast of Warsaw. He decided to process gravel from the creek for the needs of the ranch, and then began to sell aggregates to the public. After purchasing a limestone mine, formed Hilty Quarries, Inc., with Lovella and his mother Hallie. As the business grew, the Company supplied aggregate material to local and state agencies, as well as the many road and bridge relocations associated with the construction of Truman Dam.
Business relationships established during projects at Truman Reservoir led to work on Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in Kansas and Smithville Dam. By the early 1980’s the business had expanded into grading, bridge, paving and heavy construction, fulfilling his desire early in life to engage in that line of work. Stan’s strength was his ability to tirelessly pursue his vision.
Stan was active in industry organizations including, Missouri Limestone Producers Association as a past President and board member and on the Board of Directors of Associated General Contractors.
In 1990 Stan left his full time position with Hilty Quarries, Inc., to again engage in farming and ranching with his third son, agriculture being one of his lifelong interests. This also allowed him to spend time with his grandsons, which he dearly loved.
January 1, 2000 Stan married Myrna Nonaka, after losing Lovella to cancer in 1998. Stan and Myrna enjoyed many social activities with friends, and were often seen together on Wednesday and Friday evenings having dinner and swapping stories.
Stan was a member of the Board of Directors at United Missouri Bank, Board of Trustees for the Clinton United Methodist Church, Missouri Dam and Reservoir Safety Council, Clinton Elks Lodge, and Meyer Lake and Hunting and Fishing Club.
He had a lifelong passion for hunting and fishing, and enjoyed many trips with family and friends throughout North America. In particular, his love for waterfowl hunting led him to support Ducks Unlimited as a state council member and is a sponsor in perpetuity. He was also a multi-engine rated private pilot. He never met a stranger and his relationships with family, friends and those he worked with were his greatest treasure.
Stan passed away Thursday, January 26, 2023 at the Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas at the age of 87.
In addition to his wife Myrna, surviving are three sons, John Hilty (Kelley), Shawn Hilty (Wendy), and Joe Hilty (Tricia); grandsons, Zach, Orren, Connor, Montana, Mason, Macray and Trenton; one granddaughter, Anna; step-children, Aaron (Michelle) and Angela Nonaka; step-grandchildren, Danielle, Tori, Brenna, Shawn and Brendan; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the Clinton United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., just prior to the funeral service. Interment will be in the Englewood Cemetery. Stan will lie in state from noon to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Clinton United Methodist Church, and these donations may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.
