Harold Heins

Harold Henry Heins, 96, Rupert, died Friday, October 21, 2022. Harold was born on February 12,1926 on a farm near Webster City, IA. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. When he was a junior in high school, he moved with his family to a farm near Pomeroy, IA. He graduated in Pomeroy in 1943, and continued farming. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in April,1946, and after basic training he was part of the Occupation Army in Japan, until he was honorably discharged in summer, 1947. The following year he moved to Chicago, IL to attend technical school for training in air conditioning and refrigeration.

He met Roberta in Pomeroy, and after she completed nurse’s training, they were married in September,1949. They traveled west and found work in Salt Lake City, UT. In 1953, Harold’s name was #29 drawn in a lottery for irrigated farms in southern Idaho. In 1954, they began the adventure of homesteading 10 miles north of Rupert. He was always proud of his 5 proficient irrigators, and that his four daughters and his son were just as good as truck drivers as their dad who taught them! As a young father, he decided to become a private pilot and enjoyed flying for many years until his health no longer allowed him to. In 1986, he was elected to the A & B Irrigation Board where he served for 18 years. He was also very involved, along with his family, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rupert, his church home for 68 years. His wife of 40 years was killed in a tragic car accident in March,1990.

In 1993, he married Lillian Latham, who became a dedicated partner and caregiver. He is survived by Lillian (and her five children Ronda, Marna, Mark, Brenna and Salina); and his five children: Deborah (Dale) Sattgast. Huron, SD; Claudia Russell, Emmett, ID; Steven (Eileen) Heins, Burley, ID; Joanne (David Mietzner) Heins, Henderson, NV; and Susan Van Every, Edmonds, WA; as well as 15 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Warren (Vicki) Heins, Buhl, ID; sister-in-law Carol Bisson, Shoreline, WA and several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents Ernest and Regina, his first wife Roberta, his sister Ruth and brother Milton, sister-in-law Eloise and brother-in-law David, and son-in-law Steven Russell.

Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. Some of Harold’s favorites were Worship Anew, (5 Martin Luther Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46825); Lutheran Hour Ministries (660 Mason Ridge Center Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141), and Trinity Lutheran Church, (909 8th St., Rupert, ID 83350). The family thanks all who provided care for Harold, including Hospice. Hansen Mortuary.