Ione Heger, 82, formerly of Underwood, ND, died September 27, 2016 at the Sanford Health Sunset Drive Continuing Care Center in Mandan. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, October 1, 2016 at the St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church, Underwood with Father Patrick Cunningham and Deacon Keith Due officiating. Interment will be held in the Heger Family Cemetery, rural Washburn, ND. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Friday at the church. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM Friday at the church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

The active pallbearers are her grandsons, Daniel Heger, Michael Heger, Joseph Heger, Steven Heger, Christopher Gardella, Dominic Gardella, and Mike Chase. The honorary pallbearers are her granddaughters, Tammy Hopkins, Lisa Auck, Kathy Chase, Michelle Walde, Annie Johansen, and Sara Hinrichs.

Ione was born January 10, 1934 in Roseglen, ND the daughter of Carl and Irene (Ringheim) Hanson. The family moved to the Underwood area when Ione was about six. She attended country school south of Underwood. Ione married Maurice Heger and together they farmed and raised their family on a farm seven miles southwest of Underwood. They moved into Underwood in 1969 but continued to farm. They retired from farming in 1981. During retirement they enjoyed travelling. Their travels took them too many foreign countries. They were married for 51 years prior to Maurice's death in 1996. Ione enjoyed spending her winters at Happy Trails Resort in Surprise, AZ. She moved to Bismarck in 2011.

The most important things to Ione were her husband and family. They always came first with her and she would do anything to help. Ione provided many opportunities for family gatherings. She enjoyed preparing a meal after Sunday mass and at Rinky Dink Resort on the Missouri River. There were many memories made playing cards and whenever Ione cooked.

Ione was a member of St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church, a lifetime member of VFW Earl Koenig Auxiliary #694, St. Anne's Altar Society, Underwood Golf Association, and was also a volunteer at Happy Trail's Resort. She enjoyed playing cards, golfing, fishing, and sewing. She made quilts and baby blankets for her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. They were all stitched with love.

Ione is survived by her two sons, Carl (Linda) Heger of Washburn and Laurance (Nancy) Heger of Underwood; four daughters, Alice Heger of Underwood, Janet (Doug) Steckler of Underwood, Lu Gardella of Lincoln, MT., Deb (Craig) Siem of Washburn; 18 grandchildren; 43 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren and a sister, Catherine Putney of Cave Junction, OR. and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Maurice, two grandsons, Brian Steckler and Russel Emineth and 5 sisters and 3 brothers.