Gary A. Heinle, age 86, Mott, passed away at the Mott Good Samaritan Society on Thursday evening, December 12, 2013.

The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am MT on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Zoar Congregational Church, Mott, with Pastor Cory Warner officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 pm CT, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND.

Visitation will be Monday, December 16, 2013 from 1:00 pm â?? 6:00 pm with a service for family and friends at 6:00 pm all at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Mott.

Dad was born and raised in Willa, ND where his family homesteaded and farmed. After serving time in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, Ca, he went back to Burt, ND to continue farming when his father became ill.

Fortunately for Dad, he believed in hard work but to also take time for some fun. This was usually at the Burt Hall enjoying wedding dances or roller skating. It was at one of these occasions where he met his bride-to-be, Bernice.

Mom and Dad started their lives together in 1950 in Burt, where they built their basement home in which they lived for 12 years. During those 12 years they added to their family starting with the first born son, Dale. Three years later a second son, Neil came along. They were the apples of his eye. Seven years later between milking cows, feeding pigs and chickens, and cutting hay came the baby girl, Lori. With the space becoming limited, they built the little pink house on to the basement where they raised their family.

In addition to farming Dad acquired a milk truck route. He loaded milk cans then eventually advanced to a bulk-milk truck, hauling milk to the Lefor Cheese Plant for 13 years. After selling the milk route he concentrated on farming full time until retiring. In those years, he enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He also loved camping, fishing, and laughing at good stories told by the family. If he was not with family doing the things he loved, he would be working away in his small woodshop, something else he loved dearly.

Dad will always be remembered as a positive, loving, kind hearted friend and father who will always be with us.

Survivors include his sons Dale (Linda) Heinle, Mandan, ND; Neil (Francine) Heinle, Bismarck, ND; daughter, Lori (Pat) O'Brien, Mandan, ND; grandchildren, Heather Miller, Jaylia (Jon) Prussing, Jenna (Colt) Jacobson, Trent O'Brien, Logan O'Brien; great-grandchildren Kane Miller, Raith Miller, Aria Prussing, Mya Jacobson, brother-in-law, Vernon (Sylvia) Friesz, New Leipzig, ND; and special niece Trish (Al) Kindt, Mott, ND.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, John and Pauline Heinle; his wife, Bernice; sisters, Lillian, Erna, Clara Jean, and a brother Ervin.