Harriet G Hilden

Harriet Georgia Hilden, 86, of East Jordan, MI, passed away peacefully on Aug. 11, 2026. She was born on Nov. 19, 1939, in Charlevoix, MI, to John and Betty (Ballard) James, who she now has reunited with in Heaven.

A longtime Ellsworth resident, Harriet married William B. Hilden in 1958. They were married for 40 years before his passing on July 1, 1998.

Harriet enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was a proud, dedicated member of the Ellsworth Wesleyan Church over the course of her life. When she found herself with spare time between her variety of jobs in the manufacturing industry, including 13+ years at ITT in East Jordan and 6+ years at the Bullfrog Candle Factory in Charlevoix, she could be found sewing or making dinner for the family for one of their many Sunday family dinners.

Additionally, Harriet’s love for Christmas cookie decorating created a yearly tradition that took place on the Friday after Thanksgiving. There, you would find her with a smile on her face as she spent time with her family and thought about the abundance of gifts she was soon to give her family, slightly less than a month from then.

Though Harriet is now reunited with her husband William B. and son William Scott, along with her brother Charles James and sisters Betty Lou Martincheck and Margaret Kubetz, she leaves behind her son, Steve Hilden of Traverse City and daughter Gail Drenth of East Jordan.

She also leaves behind her two surviving sisters in Myra Hoffman and Marilyn Brown, brother Bill (Mary) James, grandchildren Samuel Drenth, Kyle (Falone) Hilden, Jill (Adam) Wolgamott, Kayla (Nate) Verburg, Autumn (Nick) Janeczko, and great-grandchildren Alexander Drenth, Oliver Drenth, Gemma Verburg, and Bien Hilden.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Aug. 29 at 11 a.m. at Ellsworth Wesleyan Church with a luncheon following to share fellowship.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Ellsworth Wesleyan Church.

Arrangements are in the care of the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign her online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.