RUIDOSO, N.M. — Daniel Lee Heinzerling, 65, of Ruidoso, N.M., passed away Friday, February 23, 2018, from a heart attack.
He has been cremated and a memorial service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, June 16, at 38334 133rd St. in Aberdeen.
Daniel was born August 25, 1952, in Miller to Larry and Bessie (Fanger) Heinzerling. He was the eldest of six children and was baptized at Beulah Community Church in Hand County.
As a young man, Dan enjoyed helping his dad and grandfather on the farm. He and his dad built and raced go-carts, soap box cars and eventually modified race cars, racing at dirt tracks all over S.D.
He attended Sunbeam Country School in Hand County and Miller grade school graduating from eighth grade. He transfered and graduated from Huron High School in 1970. Dan liked school and his teachers. After high school, he and best friend, Phillip Boer, went to trade school in Springfield and later transfered to Northern State in Aberdeen where he received a degree in counseling. He went on to attend a machinist mechanics school in Ames, Iowa.
Dan and his cousin, Jim Heinzerling, went to school in Minneapolis, and then decided to move to Denver, Colo. to work on road construction. He was united in marriage to Sharon Martin. They had three children, Andrew, Brett and Abigail. The couple later divorced. Dan was sent on business to Taiwan and Canada setting up and demonstrating road building machines.
Dan was united in marriage to Jody, bringing her children, John and Samantha into his family. The couple moved to Phoenix, Ariz. Upon Jody’s passing, he moved to Belle Fourche, working with his brother at Knecht Building Supply. He married Julie, and together they remodeled a building into a cafe’ in Sturgis. He had a great time serving coffee and tea to people, while Julie did the fantastic cooking. They moved to Ruidoso, N.M. and managed a coffee shop until his death.
Dan loved life, his younger brothers and sisters, and never met anyone he didn’t like. He always had a deep faith in God. He was a kind, friendly, loving person who enjoyed music and dancing.
He is survived by his wife, Julie; children, Andrew (Suzanne) of Calif., Brett (Tina), and Abigail (Bob) Batting both of Denver, Colo.; stepchildren, Samantha, John and Sara; mother and stepfather, Bessie and Rolly Aman of Aberdeen; siblings, Dana (Kathy) of Phoenix, Ariz., Dillon (Laura) of Belle Fourche, Dennis (Davis) Sparks of Nev., Dawn (Rick) Sass of Pierre, and Denise Purintun of Wolsey; aunts, Della Wilken, and Nancy Kelly both of Huron; uncle, Warren (Diane) Fanger of Utah; five grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence; his grandparents, Walt and Inez Fanger, and Bill and Louise Heinzerling; and his second wife, Jody.
Paid Obituary
