Marilyn Heinemann

Marilyn Joan Tollefson was born on October 6, 1936 at the former Moe Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, to parents Alf and Nora (Nelson) Tollefson. She was baptized and confirmed at her rural Norwegian Lutheran Church, Lands Lutheran. Her elementary education was spent at a country grade school, Sundy Dist. 25, near her farm home. Before the start of the day, students recited the Pledge of Allegiance and prayed the Lord’s Prayer. 

She started high school in a “huge” new school of 200 students in Beresford, SD! Because there were no school buses, she stayed with her maternal grandparents, Olai and Anna Nelson, in Beresford. Graduation from BHS was 1954. 

Following that fall, she enrolled at General Beadle State Teachers in Madison, for 2 years, which allowed her to begin teaching. Her first job was in Oldham SD, teaching 5th and 6th grade. Next, she made a move to South Sioux Elementary in Sioux Falls, SD. Her next move was to Chamberlain, SD, still teaching 6th grade. 

Since she was “hunting” for a “cowboy”, she and three other teachers made the big move to Billings, MT, where she taught in several elementary schools. For a couple of years, she taught in the Norwegian Community of Big Timber, MT, but Billings called her back for 9 more years. 

She met Ralph Heinemann when she and a teacher friend, Marie Duganz, started attending cattle ranch  sales! They were married on 3/10/1974, by Pastor Ocee Johnson and had 32 years of wonderful marriage.  

Since she and Ralph were not blessed with children of their own, special nieces were Sandy and Cindy Lass, Nephews Garth and Matt Johnson. 

Preceded in death by her husband Ralph, her parents, Alf and Nora, her infant brother John, her sisters Connie Lass and Cindy Lass, her niece and several of her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Marilyn’s love for dogs was love as family, Ralph and Marilyn’s beloved dogs Boltie, Bullet, Buster, Buck, and Beau, also precede her in death. 

She is survived by one sister Naomi (Charlie) Johnson of Arlington, SD, two nephews Garth (Angela) Johnson of Arlington, SD, and Matt Johnson of Washington State. Niece Sandy Lass (Jim Allensworth) of California, great nieces Harley, Sony, and Mercedes Johnson.

Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 11:00 am. Visitation will be held at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Monday October 6, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.