Victoria Hecker, 90, formerly of Fairfield, died Saturday, August 22, 2015 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Victoria’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Dennis Schafer as the celebrant, and Fr. Kerry Prendiville as con-celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. There will be a rosary led by Sr. Faith Wanner, SSND, and vigil at 7 p.m.

Victoria Schaff was born November 16, 1924 on the family farm north of Belfield, the fourth of seven children born to Jack and Rose (Obrigewitsch) Schaff. She was educated at a country school north of Belfield and graduated from Belfield High School.

Victoria wrote the teacher’s exam and taught school in Montana and at home at the Schaff School. She married Andrew D. Hecker on June 25, 1946 at St. Bernard’s Church, Belfield. In 1947 they bought a beautiful ranch in the badlands west of Gorham where they raised their five children, and a quality herd of commercial Hereford cattle. They continued to live there until they retired to Dickinson in 1992.

Victoria knew hard work. She worked along side her family in the hay fields and in the corrals working cattle while maintaining a huge garden, canning, cooking, baking, and raising her children. She enjoyed volunteering after their move to Dickinson. She spent countless hours volunteering at the House of Manna and the Coffee Shop at St. Ben’s, where she met many friends. She enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her grandchildren.

She moved to Hawks Point in 2007 and then to St. Benedict’s in December of 2013. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Society, and Germans from Russia.

Victoria is survived by her five children, Karen (Roger) Brackel, Mott, Arlene (Ralph) Betz, Caldwell, Idaho, Lyle (Jackie) Hecker, Belfield, Wayne (Tanya) Hecker, Salmon, Idaho, and Ike (Teresa) Hecker, Fairfield; sisters, Hilda Wanner, Fargo, and Caroline Hecker, Dickinson; grandchildren, Clint Jones, Kent (Natalie) Hecker, Marina Brackel, Terry (Mandi) Brackel, and Nonie (Tim’s wife) Hecker; five step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew on February 15, 2002; her parents; brothers, George, Edward, Walter and John Schaff; and a very special grandson, Master Sergeant Timothy Hecker in 2013.