Mildred "Milly" Heid

Mildred’s service will be livestreamed below at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Mildred (Milly) Ruth Heid, 95, died May 2, 2025, at the Sanford Hospice in Fargo. Milly was born to George and Frieda Gaebe in 1929, at New Salem, North Dakota. She was the youngest child who grew up with four rambunctious brothers and a sister who was also her playmate and dear friend forever. Norbert Hoesel joined the family as a little boy and was raised with them.

Milly graduated from New Salem High School and went on to earn her associate degree in teaching at Dickinson State College. She then married her high school sweetheart, Raymond Heid, in 1949 where she taught third grade at Watford City, North Dakota, for two years. She and Ray then moved to Bismarck where he taught and they raised their four children. They were an excellent and loving team.

Milly nurtured her children with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — most of the time. She often read to her children before naps and bedtime. She sewed clothing and created many quilts — one for each grandchild and many to give away. She began taking piano lessons in her 40s, took up water skiing in her 50s, swam laps in her 60s, played bridge and sang in the church choir into her 70s and 80s. She was fun. And adventurous.

In her last years Milly was tormented with and mourned her significant short-term memory loss. What always did remain were her early memories and knowledge and love of her children and grandchildren. Her humor and kindness to those around her also remained.

She is survived by her children and their families: Vickie Barfuss (Mike), Winner, South Dakota; Gayle Johnson (Dan), Moorhead, Minnesota; Kennen Heid, Bismarck; and Ruth Hoar (Tim), Lafayette, Colorado. Grandchildren: Heidi (Wes) Haney, Jon (Haley) Barfuss, Karl (Amanda) Barfuss, Phillip (Maaya) Takeda-Johnson, Anna (Matt) Porter, Kayla Heid (John) Thorenson, and Kelsey (Hannah) Heid. Great-grandchildren: Aiden, Lilly, Lydia Barfuss; Lincoln, Norah, and Liam Barfuss; Leon and Royce Takeda-Johnson; John and Grace Porter; Austin and Justin Zulu; and Elliott Heid. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Arlon Fuchs and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6th, at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. At a future date there will be a burial ceremony at the Mandan Veterans Cemetery.