Joanne M Heieie

Joanne Marie Heieie, age 88, died Thursday, September 26, 2019 at CentraCare Health in Sauk Centre. Funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Friday, October 4, 2019 at Big Grove Lutheran Church in rural Brooten. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held Thursday from 5 – 8 pm at Johnson Funeral Home in Belgrade and continue one hour prior to the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.                                                                                    www.hafh.org

Joanne Marie (Rollofson) Heieie was born on July 24, 1931 in Barrett, MN to Olaf and Gladys Rollofson. She attended school in Barrett, graduating in 1949. After college, she began her teaching career in Barrett and Lowry before coming to teach at Brooten Elementary. On June 30, 1957, Joanne was united in marriage to Orrin Heieie. To this union four daughters and two sons were born. They raised their family on the original Heieie homestead in North Fork Township where they resided until they moved to Brooten in 1995.  Joanne returned to teaching after their children had all started school, and continued to teach first grade until her retirement in 1996.  Orrin and Joanne shared 54 years of marriage until Orrin’s death on Oct. 22, 2011.    

Joanne was passionate about education and teaching. She loved her students and used her creativity and artistic talents to enrich learning in her classrooms.  She also enjoyed gardening, bird watching, quilting, crocheting, and tutoring.  She sewed many Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls and Teddy Bears for family and friends. She also made beautiful Creative Memories photo albums. Each of the grandchildren received one for their high school graduation. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren!

Joanne was a member of Big Grove Lutheran Church where she was active in WELCA. She was a member of the Zetetic Study Club and also helped with the flower show at the bank for many years.

Joanne is survived by her children:  Karla (Todd) Sorensen of Windom, Kayla (Jerry) Breen of Choteau, MT, Nancy (Paul) Gesell of Alexandria, Todd (Sara) Heieie of Brooten, Neal Heieie of Sauk Centre, and Melissa Heieie (Russ Buckley) of Wilmington, DE.  She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 4 great-grandsons, brother Gene Rollofson (Marlys), sister-in-law Dorothy Heieie, brother-in-law Ralph Heieie, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orrin; and granddaughter Victoria Heieie.

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