Alvin Herman Heier (Cot)

Akaska, SD

1936, Camps near Custer, SD,
1937, 791, Lightning Creek, F-14,

Born: July 31, 1920
Died: May 14, 2009

Alvin H. "Cot" Heier, 88, of Gettysburg, passed away, Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the Gettysburg Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 17, 2009 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Gettysburg with Pastor Mark Moldenhauer officiating. Burial followed in the Gettysburg Cemetery, directed by Luce Funeral Home, Gettysburg. Visitation was held from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, May 16, 2009 at church with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Alvin Herman Heier was born at Akaska, SD, July 31, 1920 to Samuel and Christine (Schanzenbach) Heier. He was the youngest son of 12 children. Growing up Al was given the nickname "Cot" for his white hair.

Alvin was baptized and confirmed at the Akaska Lutheran Church. He went to grade school in rural Akaska. After helping on the farm until his mid-teens, he joined the Conservation Corp Camps near Custer. There he acquired a fondness for felling trees and cutting wood. After CC Camp he went to work for the Works Progress Administration where he helped build the road between Java and Selby. Later he worked for J.C. Bieber and his brother Jake Heier in Sully County.

In 1945 Alvin married Alma Bieber at the Java Lutheran Church. They lived on the farm near Java until 1947 when they moved to Akaska and ran the service station. In 1950 they moved to the farm in Sully County. In 1979 Alvin and Alma moved to Gettysburg but continued to farm and ranch until 1993.

Alvin was an ambitious man and especially liked working with machinery. He was good at fixing and keeping it running smoothly. He took time in his life for fun, especially the love of baseball and bowling. He pitched baseball for Akaska and Gettysburg and bowled since the opening of the bowling alley in Gettysburg! He enjoyed roller and ice skating, boating and skiing, square & country western dancing, traveling, and was an avid supporter of Battler sports.

Alvin served as president of the East Cora school board for 10 years. He was a member of the Gettysburg Hospital Auxiliary and Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Alvin enjoyed his family so very much and was grateful for having shared his life with his wife, two daughters, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Alvin is survived by his wife, Alma; daughters: Marty (Mick) Bliese and Susan (Dolan) Worth all of Gettysburg; granddaughter, Heidi (Tobin) O'Bryan and her husband Dan and their children Kelly and Sara of Colome; grandson, Wade and his wife Jenn Tobin and their children Cora, Samuel, and Josie of Clear Lake; grandson, Bart and his wife Carmen Worth and their children Paige & Preston of Gettysburg; granddaughter, Heather (Worth) Kennedy and her husband Mick and their children Lexi and Kaci of Sioux Falls; and granddaughter, Mandy (Worth) Walberg and her husband Aaron and their children Aaron Jr. and Russell of Aberdeen; and one step-grandson, Kevin Bliese and fiance Kristi Duven and their son Connor of Aberdeen.

Alvin was preceded in death by his brothers: Hank, Adolph, Julius, Alfred, Jake, and Ruben Heier; sisters: Othelia Schilling, Amelia Lapp, Louise Tiller, Viola Garvey and Esther Kilber; and one granddaughter, Tammy Tobin.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to local charities such as your church, senior center/nutrition center, hospital auxiliary, EMT's, local library or the museum.

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