Norman K. Hill, 86, of Sutherland passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Cherokee.
A come and go Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 12, following the burial of the cremains and military rites that will be at Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 12. Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Norm was born on Sept. 24, 1939, at Spencer Hospital to Myron and Bertina (Axdahl) Hill. He graduated from Sutherland High School in 1958. He enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 1956 and then went on to active duty after high school graduation. He was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Fort McCoy in Wisconsin and Fort Riley in Kansas. During his active duty, he was able to meet Elvis Presley. He continued for six more years with the Army Reserves during the Vietnam War. He enlisted in the Navy Reserve in 1984 and was assigned to Subic Bay in the Philippines. He was there a month every year until 1992. During Desert Storm, he spent 10 months in the Philippines and assisted packing up the Subic Bay camp when it closed and went to Yokosuka, Japan. Norm was extremely proud of his military service and the service of his family members: Mark Hill, Marc and Brian Rupp, and nephew Patrick Hill. Norm was privileged to serve with his son Mark in the Navy Reserves and was fortunate to share many trips overseas as a father/son duo. They were stationed in the Philippines when Mount Pinatubo erupted.
He was united in marriage on June 5, 1982, to Nancy Gordon in Las Vegas, Nev.
He worked on the railroad when he was 19 and it was the hardest job he had. After his active duty, he worked for the Cherokee Mental Health Institute in 1960 as a residential treatment worker until he became a patrolman for the Cherokee Police Department in 1962. He was promoted in 1965 to Assistant Chief and later earned the rank of Captain in 1967. He was selected as the Chief of Police in September 1968 and was there until 1991. After he became the chief of police he was nominated by an area FBI special agent and went to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., in 1974. He was a member of the 97th Session of FBI National Academy, which is considered The West Point in law enforcement. He retired in 1992 when they moved to Sutherland.
He was a member of the Speculative Lodge #307 AF & AM, Sutherland American Legion and the NRA.
In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, leatherwork, making knives, watching NASCAR, going to the races and being on Mark's Pit Crew, and spending time with family. He loved watching westerns, especially Gunsmoke.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jack Hill.
Norm will be greatly missed by his wife Nancy of Sutherland; children: Mark (Janet) Hill of Cherokee; Jackie (Bill) Slack of Clinton, N.J.; Brian Rupp (fiancé Dawn Carney) of Burbank, S.D.; and Marc (Jenn) Rupp of Wakonda, S.D.; 16 grandchildren: Megan Hill of Coralville; Chris Hill of Coralville; Paige Cedar of Cherokee; Adam (Kaely) Cedar of Cherokee; Steven Slack of New Jersey; Alexander Slack of New Jersey; Brian Slack of Savannah, Ga.; Trent (Ashley) Trudeau of Paullina; Cole (Samantha) Rupp of Gayville, S.D.; Clayton (Ami) Thompson of Tabor, S.D.; Chase (Kali) Rupp of Yankton, S.D.; Cayden Rupp of Wakonda, S.D.; Nicole (JP) Dempsey of Des Moines; Trysten Rupp of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Madison Rupp of Yankton, S.D.; and Taryn Rupp of Yankton, S.D.; nine great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Betty Hill of Sutherland; also several nieces and nephews.
