David Heying

A celebration of life was held for David Heying at the Witten Hall on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. David was born October 30, 1949. He was the third of seven children born to Gerald (Jerry) and Ruth Heying. He was raised on the family farm near Hamill, SD, and attended school in Winner, SD, quitting school to do the farm work when his father became ill. At fifteen, Dave left home for the working life. He worked for many different people in and around Winner, doing a variety of jobs. At 17, Dave joined the service, choosing the National Guard. He was trained as a medic, a cook, and an engineer bridge builder. Dave served in active duty during the Chicago riots in 1969, and the Rapid City flood in 1972. He worked for Butler Aviation while in Chicago, IL.

Back in South Dakota, Dave worked road construction, moving heavy equipment and as a heavy equipment operator. Dave met his wife, Jeanine (Bamsey) Widdoss in Spearfish, SD, and they were married on March 15, 1991, in Deadwood, SD. He worked in the Open Cut in Deadwood as a shovel operator. There were few pieces of equipment that he couldn’t run. In 1998, he began to work for Peabody Coal in Wyoming. He retired in 2008, and he and Jeanine moved back to South Dakota to be closer to his family. They chose a house in Witten, SD and enjoyed retirement.

David Heying, 74, passed away September 23, 2024, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

David is survived by his wife Jeanine; siblings: Carol Earll of Valentine, NE, Ed of Lathrop, MO, Mick of Rapid City, SD, Nell (Larry) Ryno of Wood, SD, Lee (Jane) of Winner, SD, and Brad of Lead SD; stepson Jason (Lynn) Widdoss; grandchildren: Sarah, Krysta, and John Widdoss, all of Douglas, WY; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Jerry and Ruth Heying; brother in-law Jerry Earll; sisters-in-law Mary (Ed) Heying, Donna (Mick) Heying and Jayne (Brad) Heying.