Claude Heidt, of Mott, ND, passed away at the St. Luke's Home in Dickinson, ND.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Mott, ND. Fr. Charles Zins will officiate and burial with Full Military Honors will follow at Sunnyslope Cemetery. Visitations will be from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 27 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Mott and one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Wednesday morning. A Rosary/Vigil service will be Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at St. Vincent's Catholic Church.

June 18, 1945, Claude Heidt was born into the world. Shortly after that the world took notice. Claude grew up tilling the soil on a farm in the New England area. After attending country school, he graduated from St. Mary's High School in New England in 1964.

After three years of Divinity School at St. Mary's College in Winona, MN, Claude enlisted in the army. He served in Vietnam for a year with the 5th Army, 283rd Aviation Battalion. We can all be sure Claude made himself responsible for troop morale. When not telling stories of the farm, he was in charge of the parts department for helicopter maintenance. His commanding officer urged Claude to attend Non-Commissioned Officer School where he went on to graduate among the top of his class at Fort Riley. Claude enjoyed the Vietnamese people and was proud of his units' support of a local orphanage. In 1971 Claude was honorably discharged after reaching the rank of Sergeant.

Following the military, Claude attended NDSU in Fargo where he attained a Bachelor's Degree in English. Over the years, Claude told many stories of all the odd jobs he worked during this time in his life: picking peas for Del Monte (as a summer job), driving semi, and a traveling salesman to name a few.

In the summer of 1973 Claude yelled, "Anyone want to grab a beer?" at the end of a Lutheran single's picnic in Bismarck. Luckily for him and his children, Norma Hoff answered yes and by the spring of 1974 they were married. Claude worked as a parts man and was in sales for the next few years. With lots of time spent on the road, he sacrificed time at home to provide for his growing family.

By 1982 it was time for another change. Claude, Norma, and their first two of four kids picked up and moved from the big city to the slower pace of small town life in Mott. Claude and Norma took over Reiny's Shoe Store and began their life in earnest. While in Mott, Claude put on a variety of caps that entrenched him as a member of the community. Aside from taking on a variety of duties at the Heidt's Family Shoe Store, he drove school bus and delivered mail.

Immediately upon meeting Claude, even strangers became acutely aware of his passions. He said what he believed and would say it to whoever would listen. Claude loved to debate all things politics. There were few things that he was more passionate about. He was even a delegate to the state Republican Convention on several occasions. Quite possibly, the only thing Claude enjoyed more than a lively discussion was an afternoon spent with a fishing pole. Many a bluegill succumbed to his hook. During his life time, Claude was a member of the Mott Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

Claude has been described in many ways, but one characteristic that was undeniable was that he was an earnest man; a farm boy who grew into an honest man; a man that loved his kids almost as much as his grand kids. The world will miss such a vibrant man, and his family and friends will miss the man who brought their life abundance.

Claude is survived by his wife, Norma, of Mott, their son, Lance (Jamie) Heidt, Madison, WI, their daughters, Angela (Chad) Worrel, Menoken, ND and Lara (Ryan) Hagen, Dickinson, ND, grandchildren, Alan, Asher, Aven and Adilie Worrel, Hudson Heidt and Ruth and Sawyer Hagen, his parents, Kasper and Josephine Heidt, New England, his brothers, Eugene (Cindy) Heidt, Bowman, ND, Al (Cindy) Heidt, Glendive, MT, C.J. (Carol) Heidt, Bismarck, ND, sisters, Bernie (Tom) Gorek, New England, ND, Lucille (Keith) Greig, Bismarck, ND, Patricia Heidt, Beloit, WI and Rudy Savaglio, New England, ND, Rose (Vern) Gustin, Trinidad, CO, Vivian (Dave) Hernandez, Reeder, ND and Lorraine (Eric) Richard, Bismarck, ND.

Claude was preceded in death by his brothers, Marvin and Gerard Heidt and a daughter, Kerry Heidt.