MILDRED ELIZABETH HILTS GRONLUND was Rodney Hilts’ aunt. She was the oldest of 3 children of Walter and Ada Minnie Hilts on June 23, 1902 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her brother Harold was Rodney’s father. She married David Gronlund in 1928 in Los Angeles, California. Following David’s death in 1950, Mildred became a missionary and spent many years in Japan (Shimo Miyanaga-cho, Nakatsu-shi). At the end of her life, Rodney and his family brought her to Seldovia to enjoy the rest of her days. She died in Seldovia September 7, 1998 and is buried in the Seldovia City Cemetery, Plot #312.