Conrad Hilpert Obituary

Former Anchorage resident Conrad R. Hilpert, 87, died Aug. 12, 2009, in Butte, Mont. Conrad was born Sept. 19, 1921, in Pennsylvania, and grew up in Bethlehem, Pa. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1942 at Penn State University. He served in combat as an engineer assault reconnaissance officer in World War II, returning to Penn State to complete his Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering. There, in the band, he met Lucille Cox. They were married Oct. 16, 1948, and made beautiful music together until her death in November 2006. His professional career included: project engineer for the Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratories at Fort Churchill, Canada, researching improvements for arctic transportation equipment, project engineer with the International Harvester Co., and chief engineer-research and development at Twin Disk Inc. in Rockford, Ill., receiving 30 patents for transmission improvements. He received the professional degree of Mechanical Engineer from Penn State University in 1953, and a Ph.D. in engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1972. Upon retirement in 1974, he became visiting professor at Carnegie-Mellon University, generating industry-sponsored research projects for students to preview how industry works. In 1976, he moved to Anchorage to work with Rutherford Consultants. He returned to teaching in 1981 at Montana Tech in Butte, Mont., where Connie and Lucy resided until their deaths. Conrad was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Experimental Stress Analysis, Society of Automotive Engineers, Society of Professional Engineers, Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, honor societies Sigma Xi, Alpha Phi Mu and Phi Mu Alpha, and received the Arch T. Colwell Merit Award from SAE. He was a licensed professional engineer in Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Alaska and Montana. He enjoyed ham radio (call sign KL7JKE -- Just Kidding Everyone) as well as pistol shooting, railroad watching, photography and music performance, playing his last solo at the age of 81. He and Lucy motorcycled all over the U.S. and Canada, totaling in excess of 200,000 miles, until Conrad was 82 and Lucy 78. Conrad will be deeply missed as a brother, father, grandfather, leader, adviser, teacher and friend. Conrad and Lucille Hilpert always emphasized education, so in their honor a scholarship has been set up. Donations may be made to the "Connie and Lucy Hilpert Scholarship for Innovation" at Montana Tech Foundation, 1300 W. Park St., Butte, MT 59701-8997, phone 800-984-4683 Please consider adding your thoughts to the guest book for Conrad Hilpert at www.legacy.com (select "All US and Canada" as location).

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Published by Anchorage Daily News from Aug. 30 to Aug. 31, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Conrad Hilpert

Sponsored by The Estate of Conrad Hilpert.

7 Entries

Norman Kleve

December 30, 2023

I knew Conrad Hilpert through his son, Quentin. Also as a teacher at Montana Tech. I hope I am not presumptuous to say he was a friend.

I remember him driving Quentin, Quentin's wife, Connie, and me in his car. He was chiding me about being and American, yet having an (imported) Japanese car. I was beginning to get rather defensive about this when I realized we here in a Mercedes. "Hey, wait a minute!" I said. Then, I saw the smile spread across his face... "GOTCHA!"

Jeri Sartorius-Heckman

September 1, 2009

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Winnie Barrett

August 31, 2009

Uncle Connie was such a special person, not only to the family, but also to everyone he came in contact with.
His talent in music, his experise in inventing and engineering in general, and his ability to teach demostrated what a diverse person he was.
On top of this he had a wonderful wife, Aunt Lucy, ( they were together for over 50 years)and three terrific kids and a group of wonderful grandkids.
His sense of humor was great- always with a straight face, until the zinger. The man baffeled an entire town with one of his "jokes", and his very authoritative voice. Yes, yes, it WAS slab ice...."
His love and knowledge of trains added to his personality. Ask him about just about any train and he would tell you neat bits of history,or side bars about this or that train of that class.
He was never one to "blow his own horn", but a humble man, to the point that many didn't realize the genius he had, until they heard him talk.
That doesn't mean that Connie didn't have opinions- he did, and would voice them -in print- many times if he saw something that he felt could be bettered.
He was a Vet.,yet he seldom talked of his WW II experiences-EXCEPT-hope I spell this properly-Sloberlstobgogowitz. This was his "name" at a check point going in on D-day plus 10 days. He even wrote a very funny story about this for family and friends to read.
Connie was my uncle (favorite), my Godfather and my firend, and I sure will miss him!

Jim Moody

August 31, 2009

It has been years since I last talked with him. And he will still be sorely missed.
Jim Moody, NL7C

John, Conrad and Lucy

August 30, 2009

Conrad Hilpert

August 30, 2009

Lynne Duncan

August 30, 2009

Lynne (Hilpert) Duncan
Although he seldom talked of it Dad was proud of his part in WW II, participating in combat from Omaha Beach to the Elbe River. In everything he did, Dad believed a platoon, department or class is like a piece of string that can be successfully pulled through the tightest of places but cannot be pushed anywhere.
Dad believed music is forever. So each of us kids were taking music lessons while friend played sports. After dad played a piccolo solo at 81 he asked the audience if anyone had recently seen an 81 year old playing football? Music and education were the best gifts Dad gave me.
Quentin introduced Dad and Mom to motorcycle riding in 1972 from which there was no turning back. Their over 200,000 miles of travels included three trips up the Alaska/Canada highway. They turned in their bikes at the age of 82; Lucy was 78, content to watch other bikers head in to rain storms from the comfort of their Cadillac.
Dad was strongly opinionated with experience to back these opinions and wrote many letters to the editor while living in Butte MT.
My Dad was wonderful and totally unique.
The family may be contacted at [email protected], or by mail at 10820 Chain of Rock Street, Eagle River, AK 99577-8169

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