Marcie J. (Celander) Heerten

Marcie Joi Heerten was a passionate, principled, and fierce woman. She was deeply affectionate, tender, and often stubborn and silly. She is forever our loved wife and helpmate, mom, grandma, daughter, sister, and friend. She lived a life of trusting the Lord and always walked by faith, knowing that God is good and will always provide. She spent her days nurturing the people, land, and animals that she loved.

  Marcie was born on March 1st, 1963, to Joan Johnson and Danny Celander and grew up with her adventurous siblings – Chuck, Stuart, Kristie, and Charity. During the spring of 1981 she met her handsome rancher, Russ Heerten. They fell in love, were married on October 9th, and over the next 43 years she was by his side in every venture. They guided, taught, and inspired their three children – Erin, Lee, and Jessica. Everywhere they lived – Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota – they built and nurtured family, friendships, businesses, and community.

  Marcie died on September 21st, 2024, near Reliance, South Dakota. She was on the ranch doing the work she loved, side-by-side with the man she loved.

  Marcie was preceded in death by her father Danny Celander, dad Darrell Johnson, and father-in-law Art Heerten. She is deeply missed by her husband Russ Heerten; her children Erin and Jake Cole, Lee and Angel Heerten-Rodriguez, and Jessica Heerten and Brett Banakis; her grandchildren Tessa, Brenna, Tripp, Terra, Ava, and soon to arrive Baby Cole; her mother Joan Johnson, and mother-in-law Lila Heerten; her siblings Chuck and Maureen Celander, Stuart and Shirley Celander, Kristie and Pat Rake, Charity and Danny Feemster; her brothers- and sisters-in-law Rod and Debbie Heerten, Ron and Sandra Heerten, and Arletta and Dick Childress; her many nieces and nephews; her church family; her many friends and all those whose lives she touched.

 Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 in the New Hope Community Church in Springview, Nebraska, officiated by Pastor Tim Wyrick. Music and hymns “Amazing Grace” and “Blessed Assurance” were provided by Kristin Jerred and Gloria Frick with special music by Pastor Sam and Mary Courts singing “Not As Others.” Casket Bearers were: Jerry Duffield, Bill Burkhard, Grady Frick, Grant Frick, Caleb Wyrick, Joshua Wyrick, Joe Caulfield and Ethan Munger. Honorary Casket Bearers were: All of Marcie’s other family and friends. Interment followed a funeral lunch in the Pleasant Dale Cemetery at Norden, Nebraska. Memorials were suggested to the family in Marcie’s name for a future designation. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was in charge of the arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.