Tillie Hecker

Funeral Mass for Tillie Hecker, 86, of Dickinson, ND, will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 8, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, ND, with Father Keith Streifel celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson.


Visitation will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson; with a Vigil service taking place at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Stevenson Funeral Home.


Tillie passed away Monday, September 5, 2011 at her home in Dickinson under the care of her daughters.


Tillie Wanner was born January 15, 1925 to Emmanuel and Elizabeth (Roth) Wanner. She grew up on the family farm near Hirschville, ND, and attended school at Wild Rose School south of the farm. Tillie worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital for six months. She married Bernard “Ben” Hecker on May 8, 1944 at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dickinson. The couple made their home on a farm south of Belfield, and it was there that they raised their family of eight children. Tillie worked hard on the farm, milking cows and stacking hay. Every year she raised a large garden that fed the family all winter long. The couple remained on the farm until Ben and Tillie moved to Dickinson in 1991. Ben and Tillie loved to dance and drove for miles to find area dances such as at St. Anthony’s and the Eagle’s Club. Tillie sewed and quilted. She especially loved knitting and taking care of her flowers. Roses were her favorite. She enjoyed visits from her children and grandchildren. Tillie dedicated her life to raising her family. She was a loving and caring mother, mother-in-law and grandmother.


Tillie is survived by three sons: Gary (Carlotta) Hecker of Billings, MT, Lee (Rhonda) Hecker of Dickinson, ND, and Tim (Sandy) Hecker of New England, ND; three daughters: Darlene Neilan of Colby, KS, Linda (Frank) Yarker of Pierre, SD, and Collette (Ken) Gatzke of Rapid City, SD; one daughter-in-law: Ruth Hecker of Denver, CO; one sister, Katie Bahley of Dickinson, ND; seventeen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.


Tillie was preceded in death by her parents, Emmanuel and Elizabeth Wanner; eight brothers and sisters; her husband, Ben, two sons: Robert and Reggie; one son-in-law, Leo Neilan; and one grandson, Ari Beach.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: September 8, 2011
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Thursday; St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, ND