Nancy Heiser

A funeral Mass for Nancy Heiser, 74, of Laurel, MT, formerly of Killdeer, will be 10:00 a. m. , Saturday, July 11, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Killdeer with Father Darnis Selvanayakam celebrating. Burial will take place in Oakdale Cemetery. Nancy passed away Saturday, July 4, 2015 at her home in Laurel, MT. We are celebrating the life of Nancy (Kupper) Heiser. Nancy took the hand of her Angels, and went to meet the Lord on July 4, 2015; fittingly on Independence Day. Not only was Nancy very patriotic, she was also very independent, and loved the 4th of July celebration. She was the first born and daughter of Johnny and Ione Kupper. Nancy was born near Killdeer, ND and was raised on the Kupper Ranch north of Killdeer, where she learned her lifelong hard work ethic, along with compassion, values, faith and a lot of humor. Nancy went to 1st grade at the country school a few miles from the ranch. Some days her dad would take her in a team and sled when the snow was too deep. She attended Killdeer public school and that same country school through her grade school years, and graduated from Killdeer High School in 1958. After graduation Nancy attended college in Rapid City, SD at Black Hills Business College. Upon returning from college, she started working for the Killdeer Herald. That was the start of a lifelong joy of writing. Nancy was always the best letter writer, and we will cherish those letters forever. She wrote lists for everything! She also wrote some children’s books that she dreamed of getting published. Most recently she wrote her bucket list and even her final wishes for this celebration of her life. In 1960, Nancy and Ed Heiser were married in Killdeer, ND. In 1961 they moved to Sidney, MT where Nancy was employed at the newspaper, beginning their family of four daughters, Gwen, Darla, Renee, and Becky. Nancy and Ed left Sidney and moved to Billings, MT in 1964. They built a home outside of Billings in Echo Canyon, and also during that time they purchased property in the Beartooth Mountains, SW of Absarokee, MT. Soon there was a cabin raising, and for Nancy and most of her family and friends, the memories of “The Cabin” began. Even after they moved to Powell, WY and then later Washington, the main retreat and place of comfort for Nancy was “The Cabin”. While in WA, Nancy was a Washington State Capital Tour guide. She liked her politics and enjoyed a debate here and there, but her love for her country truly shined through. Nancy and Ed later divorced and Nancy moved permanently to The Cabin. In 2006 she lost almost everything, including the cabin, in the Derby Fires. But soon she replaced it with a new house and it still feels like home, Nancy’s home. . . . . and her home is yours. Nancy loved the outdoors, and the mountains. She loved to sit at a branding visiting with the ranchers, or at a beach watching the waves. She loved to walk and see what was around her. Nancy was a bit of a gypsy, as we called her. She loved to drive, and it was nothing to load up four kids and take off for a trip to ND or wherever. She would be playing music and most of the time had the windows down and the wind blowing no matter how hot it was. Nancy enjoyed hunting and fishing, and liked to sit around a campfire. The more family and friends she had around her, the better. In talking to her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, siblings, and friends, it is a consensus that she had a knack for making each person feel and know that they were very important and special to her. And they were! They knew that on every holiday or special occasion she was thinking of them. She gave herself to all that she cared about and did it well. She was also quite resilient, even for being only 4' 9? tall. You didn’t underestimate her on anything. She loved kids and taught them to put your family first, have fun, and find joy in the small things; that it is ok to play dress up or wear a crazy hat, anytime. . . all the time. Nancy liked to have a lot of people around her, and she was an amazing cook: from when she helped her mom cook for the threshing crews, to the holidays, weddings and every occasion no matter how big or small. She also was a talented seamstress, and sewed some very intricate clothing. Nancy liked horse racing, and playing cards and games, and she was pretty competitive at everything she did!She was so smart and unique, and she was carefree and fun. She had a faith in God that was never lost, and only got more profound until she went to meet Him. She will be missed immensely, but we have no doubt that she is in Heaven with her many Angels and her Lord. Nancy is a member of the St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Killdeer. She chose to come home, and be there for her final farewell. Nancy is survived by her four daughters: Gwen (Ken) White Kalispell, MT, Darla Shaw Billings, MT, Renee (Jeff) Schaffer, Billings, MT, Becky (Brett) Weiderstrom, Camano Island, WA; grandchildren: Katie White, Kalispell, MT , Mandy (Ryan) Pokorney, Kalispell, MT, BreAnn (Troy) Miller, Billings, MT, Jena Simmons, Billings, MT, Samantha (Noe) Simmons, Moses Lake, WA, Dakota Schaffer, Billings, MT, Abby Weiderstrom, Camano Island, WA , Cole Weiderstrom, Camano Island, WA; great-grandchildren: Hannah Miller, Billings, MT, Shannah Miller, Billings, MT, MaKenna, Mayson and Macy Simmons, Billings, MT, Jasmine Jimenez, Moses Lake, WA; siblings: Sue (Don) Rhodes, Seattle, WA, Joyce (Loren) Dewhirst, Dunn Center, ND , Ted (Dawn) Kupper, Killdeer, ND, Cherri (Scott) Lynch, Dunn Center, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews who were very important to her; companion and friend, Dennis Yates, Fishtail, MT. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny and Ione Kupper; siblings, infant twins-John and Peggy Kupper, and Kenneth KupperA Sunset On Earth Is A Sunrise In Heaven


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Burial Date: July 11, 2015
Church St. Joseph's Catholic Church

Funeral Mass: Saturday: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Killdeer, ND