Eulalie “Lollie” Meier Heidt, 83, Dickinson, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at St. Luke’s Home after an extremely courageous battle with bone marrow cancer. There will be a Liturgy of Word Service at 10 A.M., Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Deacon Ron Keller presiding. Interment will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. at Ladbury Funeral Service with a Rosary at 7 P.M.
She was born to Joseph Meier and Anna Marie Zent on July 25, 1938 at home near Bentley, North Dakota.
She was married twice. First to Max Riehl and then Louie J. Heidt. She has 4 living children and 1 in heaven waiting for her.
She spent most of her life in North Dakota except for 5 years living in Idaho with her husband and kids. She was a Bluebird Leader in Dickinson and very active in the Democratic party all her adult life. When the family moved to Belfield in the 70s she did some bookkeeping, studied to become an EMT on the Belfield Ambulance, became a member of the Park board and was instrumental in the reopening of the swimming pool. Lollie was elected to the Belfield City Council until she decided that she wanted to go to college, and she did just that! While going to college, she worked for Able Inc and graduated from Dickinson State University with a Social and Behavioral Science Degree. Lollie was an advocate for those who could not speak for themselves. She went to work at Stark County Social Services and then for the State of North Dakota with Badlands Human Service Center, working there until her illness took over her life. She touched many lives there and everybody knew “Lollie”.
She had a love for many things which included her adopted dogs and all other animals. She was a true lover of nature.
Her hobbies included riding on the Harley with Louie for many years, painting freehand with watercolors and oils, and reading mysteries. She wrote and illustrated several children’s books that were not published. Lollie was like a mom on TV. When her children were younger, she sewed their clothes, knitted blankets and patchwork quilts. She baked homemade birthday cakes and was the family hairdresser and even her own until her final days. On cold North Dakota days, she would entertain her kids with card games and tea with toast in fancy shapes. She always had an eye for detail and tried to teach that to her kids and grandkids. Her belief system was strong in that everyone was created equally no matter their differences. She taught her girls to be strong, independent women and free thinkers. She loved gardening, especially her tomato plants and all her favorite flowers. She loved her dogs, especially her rescues Basil and Carmella, and lived for their daily walks. Their fierce loyalty to her kept her going.
She was a member of Phi Sigma Pi Honor Fraternity, Belfield 100 year Centennial Committee, ASPCA and the Humane Society, and The National and State Democratic Party.
She is survived by her 4 children: Maxine (Ray) Hauck, Dickinson, David (Josie) Heidt, Peoria, AZ, Brenda Heidt, Surprise, AZ, and Sheila Edwards, Aurora, CO; her 8 grandchildren: Brandon (Nora) Svihl, Post Falls, ID, Carson Svihl, Missoula, MT, Levi (Tina) Staggs, Perryton, TX, Ashley Staggs, Dickinson, Darian Minter, Aurora, CO, Shelissa (Frank) Minter, Denver, CO, Zach Heidt, Corvallis, OR, and Natali Heidt, Corvallis, OR; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Ellyanna and Brecken Svihl; many nieces and nephews; and siblings: Leo (Sally) Meier, Jane Senn, Dan (Cling) Meier, Rosie (Frank) Barta, Ellie (Larry) Raulerson, Fran (Kurt) Knight, Mary Meier and Ron (Suzanne) Meier; and her sisters-in-law.
She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands Max Riehl and Louie J. Heidt, her daughter Virginia Heidt, brothers Joe, Richard, Jimmy and John, and 2 grandchildren Shelisa Staggs and Brandon Staggs.
She would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Wos, Jo Ann Lindemann, and the kind oncology team at Sanford Health, Dr. Anderson, and her granddaughter Ashley. Also, thanks to the neighborhood girls she adopted as her own grandkids Amanda Becker and Madison Moericke for their compassion, love, and support until her final moments. Lastly, a thank you to the kind staff at St. Luke’s including her favorite nurses Trinity and Charles, her favorite CNA Maggie and great-niece Kara that she thought the world of and all that took great care of her.
