Dena Dawn Troxel-Hilyard, 43 years, of North Platte, NE, died at home on Tuesday, February 24, 2015.

Dena was born March 22, 1971, to Michael Delno and Beverly Rose Slack Troxel at Gothenburg, NE. She grew up in Sutherland, NE and graduated from Sutherland High School in 1989. Dena then attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and received a BS in Business Communications in 1993. Following graduation she married Todd Hilyard and they later divorced.

Dena managed a chiropractic clinic in Aurora, NE for several years before moving to Utica, NE then to Cozad where she worked at the Cozad Clinic for a couple years. She later moved to Gothenburg where she joined the American Lutheran Church, she had been a member since 2001. Dena commuted to Sutherland where she worked at the Gerald Gentleman Station then moved back to Sutherland and worked for Becker Farms.

Dena enjoyed gardening, canning and cooking. She especially loved to spend time with her children.

She leaves behind her children, Jackson and Jordyn Hilyard, of Holdrege, NE; her parents, Mike and Bev Troxel, of Sutherland; sister, Mandy Jo (Greg) Holmberg, of Wichita, KS; a niece and nephew, Avery and Easton Holmberg; uncles, Bill G. (Betty) Slack, of Brady, NE, and Gerald (Cheryl) Troxel, of Grandbury, TX; aunts, Evonne (Garry) Hicken and Carol Slack, of Gothenburg and Karen Anderson, of Rockville, IL; and numerous cousins and other family.

Dena was preceded in death by her uncles, Dennis Anderson and Richard Slack; and grandparents, Dwight and Jewel Troxel and Bill and Geraldine Slack.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Monday, March 2, 2015, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sutherland with Vicar JA Welsh officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date.

The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for her children’s college education. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.