Michael Hillman

Michael John Hillman passed away Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at home in Roswell, NM. He was born July 15, 1936 in Los Angeles, CA to John Newton Hillman and Diane (Wagner) Hillman.

Mike grew up in Southern California, developing a lifelong love of sailing while living on Balboa Island and developing a love of ranching on the Valley Center family ranch where he participated in FFA. Mike was awarded the CA state farmer award his sophomore and junior years.

He started his college career at Whittier College, driving the High School bus and bussing tables at the Whittier College Campus Inn. He transferred to Fresno State to major in Agriculture. His goals changed prior to graduating and he started a career in the oil fields. Mike and Margaret (Peggy Jo) Huggans married in 1957 and moved to Farmington New Mexico, where Mike started working for California Production Service.

In 1980, Mike left the oilfields behind and he and Peggy purchased a ranch in Cambridge, ID.  After 13 successful years of range and livestock management in Idaho, Mike and Peggy moved to the Roswell area, purchasing the Red Bluff Ranch north of town in 1993. Mike retired from ranching in 2006 and moved closer to town.

Mike is survived by his wife Margaret, children Helen (Gary) DeMoss, Michele Hillman, and Ron (Licia) Hillman, grandchildren Chelsea (Paul) Valente and Katherine Hillman, and brother Skip (Sue) Hillman, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Diane Hillman, son John Sanford Hillman and grandson Michael Edward Hillman.

From the age of six when he sailed Balboa Bay in his Balboa Dinghy to skippering his Tartan 41 in two Transpac Races, and from building a successful oil field services company and airport FBO to managing ranches, Mike Hillman was never bored. He always had things he wanted to do.