Dawn R. Hillman

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Dawn Ranae (Swier) Hillman, 67, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, August 1, 2026, following a motorcycle accident while traveling with her husband and family.

She was doing something she loved—sharing an adventure with those closest to her.

Dawn was born on February 21, 1959, to Marvin Gene Swier and Phyllis Rae (Fods) Swier. She grew up in Colton as one of seven children and graduated from Tri-Valley High School in 1977 and Augustana College in 1982.

Much of Dawn’s life was intertwined with Roll’n Pin Restaurant. Most who knew her would say she worked harder than anyone else and could do almost anything that needed doing. Through that work, she helped make Roll’n Pin more than a restaurant—it became a community and an extended family where generations of employees and customers felt known and welcomed.

Roll’n Pin was also where Dawn met Randall Lee Hillman. At first, Dawn tried to find Randy a date, while Randy served as chaperone when Dawn and her friends went out on the town. Somewhere along the way, the matchmaker and the chaperone found one another.

Dawn and Randy were married on October 2, 1982, at First Lutheran Church in Colton. They shared nearly 44 years of marriage and built a life around family, hard work, laughter, and one another.

Dawn was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister, but those titles alone cannot describe the place she held in people’s lives. Many called her Mom, thought of her as a sister, or knew her as their best friend. She was the one they turned to when they needed an honest answer, practical help, or simply someone to listen.

At a family gathering, Dawn seemed to be everywhere at once—getting supper on the table, finding whatever Randy needed, rescuing a dish that had gone sideways, setting up yard games, opening a bottle of wine, and helping one of her children work through a problem. Every so often, the buns burned in the oven, but no one around her ever went uncared for.

To her children, Dawn was their mother, best friend, protector, mentor, and steady source of direction. She knew each of them as individuals and made each one feel valued for exactly who they were. She could see possibilities in them that they could not yet see in themselves and guide them toward the right path without making them feel judged.

Dawn adored her grandchildren—Blake, Bella, Brea, Zach, Tyler, Dylan, Theo, Claire, and Olivia. Whether she was playing games, helping with a project, planning an activity, or simply listening, Grandma was fully present. Her strength, laughter, guidance, and example will remain with them throughout their lives.

Dawn loved going places and bringing others with her. She often had the next two or three trips on the calendar before the current one had even ended. She especially treasured adventures that included her mother, Phyllis, her sisters, and as many other family members and friends as she could bring along.

Dawn was strong, fearless, forgiving, direct, practical, and deeply fun. She could be firm without being cruel, honest without being judgmental, and incredibly tough while remaining extraordinarily generous.

She is survived by her husband, Randall Lee Hillman; her mother, Phyllis Rae Swier; her children, Michael Hillman, Matthew (Tanya) Hillman, Markus (Christy) Hillman, Amy (Justin) Robeck, and Jeff (Desiree) Hillman; her grandchildren, Blake, Bella, Brea, Zach, Tyler, Dylan, Theo, Claire, and Olivia; her siblings, Deborah (Bruce) McCain, Dale Swier, Duane (Kellie) Swier, Denise (Brian) Rajala, Donna (Dave) Hulstein, and Diane (John) Hanick; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, coworkers, customers, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Marvin Gene Swier; her niece, Beth Ann Rajala; her nephew, Ronnie DeKam; her fathers-in-law, Robert Myers and Kenny Hillman; and her brother-in-law, Bruce Hillman.

Visitation will be held Sunday, August 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Central Church, Southwest Campus, Sioux Falls. Her funeral service will be held Monday, August 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Central Church, with a burial and luncheon to follow.

Dawn was like a sparkler—bright, warm, beautiful, and impossible not to notice. She lived fully and kept shining right up until the very end. To her family, she was as close to perfect as any person could be.

We love you more than words could ever say.