Barbara Tilton

A family visitation and celebration of life for Barbara Tilton, age 71, of Winner, SD, was held on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 4-7 p.m., at Kotrba Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Barbara Ann Tilton was born December 10, 1954, at Camp Chaffee, AR, to Sylvester and Lila Ann (Miller) Heying while her father was stationed there. In her early years, they lived on her grandparents’ farm. As she grew, she enjoyed helping her grandpa with chores and some fieldwork, learning to drive his tractor and pickup. She also learned how to care for and ride her horse.

Barb and her family moved to town where she attended and graduated from Winner High School in 1973. She worked at the hospital during her junior and senior years.

In the fall of 1972, while rollerskating at Al’s Roller Dome in Dallas, Barb grabbed Lynn Tilton during the “ladies’ choice” and didn’t let go. She graduated high school in May, and in June they were married Together Barb and Lynn raised three children. In 1980, Barb took over the contract mail route that her mother had traveled for 20 years, delivering mail from Winner to the Hamill area. She continued this for over 30 years, six days a week, and 140 miles a day, with only a few breaks when she hired someone to sub for her.

In 2007, she retired from the route to oversee care for Lynn’s mom, Janice. Barb supervised the building of a house on the farm for Janice just steps from her trailer. After Janice passed, Barb made the new house into the home for her own family.

In her spare time, Barb enjoyed art of all sorts, including painting, pencil drawing, and refinishing furniture, to the point of filling the original farm house to its limit.

After battling a year-long illness, Barb passed away on January 4, 2026, in Rochester, MN, at the age of 71.

She is survived by her husband Lynn; children Chuck (Amy) Tilton, LeighAnn (Jorge) Tello, and Steve (Kim) Tilton; grandchildren Jorge, Zoe, Sofia, Arturo, Maya, and Mauricia Tello, and Adrienne Tilton; her mother Lila Ann (Heying) Kellogg; brothers Doyle (Kathy) Heying, Bruce (Tammy) Heying, Darwin (Lori) Heying; sisters Diane (Mike) Adams and Brenda (Jim) Hofeldt; special friends Leeann Davis and Judy Kayl; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents.