Bernice Heiser, 81, formerly of Grassy Butte, died Thursday, September 1, 2011 at the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Bernice’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Killdeer with Fr. John Pfeifer as the celebrant. Interment will follow at the Grassy Butte Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., with Deacon Bob Stockert presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.
Bernice Metz was born April 13, 1930 on the family farm near South Heart, the daughter of Steve and Margaret (Zentner) Metz. She was raised and educated in the South Heart area and had attended Model High in Dickinson.
Bernice married Ralph Heiser on October 12, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, South Heart. Following their marriage they lived in Beach, then Killdeer where Ralph worked as a mechanic, prior to making Grassy Butte their home in 1956. Here they raised their five children and owned and operated Heiser Standard for 47 years. When mom wasn’t visiting with customers she enjoyed watching Days of Our Lives, Jeopardy, and every day she played solitaire and worked crossword puzzles.
Grandma “Bernie” as her family fondly called her loved music and her foot was always tapping. She made the best Pistachio salad and Icebox cookies. She collected postcards and enjoyed writing in her diary, and she walked miles in her lifetime.
She moved to Wisconsin in October of 2007 to live with her daughter Cindy, to Hill Top Home of Comfort in June 2009, and then in March 2011 we moved her to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Here they took wonderful care of her till the time of her death. She belonged to the St. Peter’s Canisius Alter Society where she made sure there was always heat and water for the services. Collecting postcards, journaling, crossword puzzles, writing letters and cards to family, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren brought her great joy and comfort.
Bernice is survived by five children, Ron (Pat) Heiser, Grassy Butte, Brenda Wanner, Eufaula, Ala., Ken (Jane) Heiser, Dickinson, Cindy (Glen) Hoverson, Pulaski, Wis., and Craig Heiser, Kalkaska, Mich.; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; 10 siblings, John (Barbara) Metz, Agnes Custer, Mildred Robison, Albert (Sharon) Metz, Harvey (Joy) Metz, Alice Pojorlie, Tom (Diane) Metz, Bob (Theresa) Metz, Linda (Martin) Buzalski, and Howard Metz; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph on December 14, 2003; one grandson, Aaron Wanner; sisters, Janice and Eileen; two brothers, Adolph and Jim who died in infancy; and one infant son, Joseph.
