Marius (Marjorie) Hiltner, OSB

Marius (Marjorie) Hiltner, OSB
Saint Benedict’s Monastery
St. Joseph, Minn.
September 21, 1934 – October 2, 2026

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., for Sister Marius (Marjorie) Hiltner, who died on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, Minn. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Thursday, October 15, 2026, for a Prayer Service at 3 p.m. followed by visitation until 4:15 p.m., or for a Vigil Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Friday, October 16.

S. Marius was born on September 21, 1934, the youngest of six children, to Leo and Margaret (Harren) Hiltner in Freeport, Minn. She attended Sacred Heart Grade School in Freeport, Melrose High School for grades 9-10 in Melrose, Minn., and graduated from Saint Benedict’s High School in St. Joseph. S. Marius entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery on September 3, 1950, was received into the novitiate on June 18, 1952, made first monastic profession on July 11, 1953, and perpetual monastic profession on July 11, 1956. She celebrated her Golden Jubilee on July 11, 2003, and her 60th anniversary on April 20, 2013.

S. Marius received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with minors in music and philosophy from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph. She also attended the University of Saint Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.

For 59 years, S. Marius served in Catholic education and parish ministry throughout Central Minnesota as a teacher, principal, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) instructor, music teacher and organist. Her ministry included St. John Nepomuk’s, Lastrup; St. Augustine’s, St. Cloud; St. Mary’s, Breckenridge; St. Mary’s, St. Augusta; and for 39 years, she served at St. Wendelin’s, Luxemburg. She also served as principal, organist, and CCD teacher in several of these communities. Throughout her ministry, she shared her love of music as an organist, choir director, music teacher, piano instructor and director of Christmas pageants. In recognition of her dedication to Catholic education, she received the Leadership in Education Excellence Outstanding Educator Award in 1996. In 2013, S. Marius moved to Saint Scholastica Convent, where she continued to share her gifts through music and service by playing the organ, assisting with liturgies and accompanying sisters to appointments.

S. Marius is survived by the members of her Benedictine community, her twin brother, Leon (Midge), as well as nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard, and her sisters, Mary (Virgil) Goebel, Louise (Edwin) Hemker, and Elizabeth (Harold) Carota.

Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Outreach Ministries.