Rev. Dillon L. Hess

NORFOLK -- Funeral service for Rev. Dillon L. Hess, 97, of Norfolk, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at the Westridge United Methodist Church in Norfolk. Rev. Caitlin Bentzinger will be officiating the service. Interment will be at the Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, also at Westridge United Methodist Church. Rev. Hess passed away on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk. The service will be live-streamed on the Church’s Facebook page at Westridge United Methodist Church. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Rev. Hess was born on July 23, 1928, in Gordon, Nebraska to Willard J. and Helen L. (Burleigh) Hess. As the youngest of four children, he grew up on a farm northwest of Clinton, NE, helping with chores such as milking cows and driving the tractor at a young age. Faith was a strong part of his upbringing. He joined the Clinton Community Methodist Church on April 20, 1941. He attended grade school at Clinton School. When the Clinton school closed, he attended high school in Gordon, NE. He and a few of the basketball players from the little Clinton School were part of the starting team at Gordon High School. He enjoyed playing many sports in high school including basketball, football and softball. He also played the saxophone and trombone in high school. He graduated from Gordon High School in May of 1946. He graduated from Taylor University in Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in June 1950. He attended Asbury Seminary School in Taylor, KY, and was ordained in June 1952. While he was in his 2nd year at the Asbury Seminary, in March 1951, Dillon met Maudie Slusher who was attending the Good Samaritan School of Nursing on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, KY. Maudie went to a Spring Seminary picnic with Dillon early on in their courtship. Some of the older seminary students thought it would be a good idea to push Dillon and Maudie's canoe out into the Kentucky River, which had a series of dams which made the river deep and fast. Dillon was a land lover, not being around water much on the farm in Nebraska. They paddled the best they could and somehow, managed to keep from going over the dam. When they finally got close enough to land, they were pulled safely back to shore. They carried the canoe over their heads tramping through the tall grass on the way back to the picnic area. The Seminary picnic meal was pretty well over by the time they got back. Dillon wasn't sure if Maudie would ever want to see him again after that adventure, but that was just the beginning of their lifetime of adventures. They started dating more seriously and on September 21, 1951, they were married at the Epworth Methodist Church in Lexington, KY. They then honeymooned through the Smokey Mountains and Virginia Valley before traveling to Nebraska so Maudie could be acquainted with Dillon’s family. Dillon was ordained a Deacon at Nebraska Methodist Conference in June 1952 in Grand Island, NE. In June 1953, after serving as Athletic Director, Editor of School Newspaper, and being an active member of Student Church, he graduated from Asbury Seminary with a Master of Divinity. Since June 1953, Dillon served different United Methodist Churches throughout Nebraska with Maudie always a capable co-worker in each church. Dillon and Maudie moved to Frontier County in Nebraska to serve the Maywood and Wellfleet Methodist Churches as his first appointment in 1953 - 1956. Their first son, Roy, was born in 1954, and second son, Terry, was born in 1955 in McCook. Dillon's next appointment was with the Lincoln Lakeview Church in 1956 - 1957, followed by the Hopewell Church and Crab Orchard Church in 1957 - 1961. Their first daughter Sharon was born in Beatrice in 1959. Dillon served the Lyons, NE church 1961 - 1968. Their second daughter, Marsha was born in 1963 in West Point. He served as counselor and director at Camp Fontanelle for many years with Maudie as the camp nurse. In 1968, they moved to Neligh, NE and began serving the Neligh and Clearwater Churches. Dillon's next appointment was in Lexington, NE from 1974 - 1977. From 1977 - 1983, he served the Republican Valley Parrish (Franklin & Bloomington, Alma & Huntley, Republican City & Macon). From 1983 - 1985 he served the Beaver Crossing and Seward Salem Church. From 1985 - 1987 he served the Shelby Church. He was a part time minister in Amelia, Chambers, and Fairview. He filled in at the Norfolk Parish long after his official retirement in 1992. Having preached his first sermon at the age of 17, Dillon has spread the word of God for 80 years, giving thousands of sermons, officiating weddings, baptisms, confirmations, and funerals. The year 1980 was a particularly busy year as he officiated the weddings for three of his four children. In 1986, he officiated his youngest child's wedding. Since then he has officiated weddings for his grandchildren and a great grandchild, and baptized his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Throughout their lives he and Maudie were very active in Walk to Emmaus, hosting some meetings at their home. Dillon volunteered and worked at the Norfolk Rescue Mission soon after its 1996 establishment. Music has always been an integral part of Dillon's life and ministry. He enjoyed singing and was part of the Northeast Nebraska Men's choir, and the Strings and Whistles band. While residing at the Meadows he enjoyed many of the activities there from puzzles to bingo and helped with Chapel services. Family camping trips, playing horseshoes, making homemade ice cream, family gatherings and meals, attending early men's breakfast and fellowship were some of his favorite pastimes. His entire life he put others before himself. He is survived by his son Terry (Laura) Hess of Stanton; daughter Sharon (Jeff) Schweer of Everett, WA; daughter Marsha Grafton of Shelbyville, TN; daughter-in-law Nellie Hess of Harlington, TX; 13 grandchildren: Erika Hess, Erik Hess, Merry (Zachary) Bowen, Keri (Daniel) Smith, Kory (Robyn) Hess, Kody (Brooke) Hess, Stefanie Schweer, Julia Schweer, Samantha (Travis) Chester, Alexis (Michael) McKnight, Rachel Grafton, Joshua Grafton, and Tyler Grafton; 9 great-grandchildren: Chandler Bowen, Cadence Hess, Nicole Hess, Haley Lierman, Maya Hess, Kaleb Hess, Adrian Hess, Genevieve McKnight, Willow McKnight; 2 great great grandchildren Zeppelin and Willow Lierman; and sister-in-law Mary Rose of Lexington, KY. He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings (Evaleen Hess, Laurabel Neithercut, and Willard J. (Curly) Hess); son Roy Hess; son-in-law Gary Grafton; granddaughter Jessica Grafton; and grandson Derek Hess. Casket bearers will be Wayne Andreason, Jerry Ketelsen, Ron McKeever, Ron Miller, Dave Scarf, and Pastor Gordon Braun. Honorary casket bearers will be all of Dillon’s grandchildren. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Rev. Dillon L. Hess

July 23, 1928 - December 2, 2025