Bessie Aman

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Bessie Lee Fanger Heinzerling Aman, 88, of Aberdeen, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Sanford Ava's House in Sioux Falls.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 26, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church, Miller, Rev. Teresa Whetsel, officiating.  Burial will follow at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Bess was born June 8th, 1934, in Sully County to Walter and Inez (Burger) Fanger. On June 16th she was baptized at Harold Methodist Church. She was the 3rd child of 6 and is the last surviving child of Walter and Inez. In the early years she loved riding horseback to and from Hilton School, was a delegate to Young Citizens League from Sully County, marched in the Governors Parade and loved the ranch life especially milking the cows and picking eggs.  At age 14, she moved from the ranch and attended Miller High School, paying her own way through. There she met and married her High School sweetheart, Larry Heinzerling, a farmer from North Hand County. Bess was always taking lessons or courses, piano lessons, 4-H, homemakers of America just to name a few during the early years, courses on sewing and upholstery in Rapid City, courses on nutrition in Brookings which led to work for the Federal Government as a nutrition expert for alcoholics and addicts.  She worked for Farmers Union Insurance state office in Huron, studied Real Estate and Insurance policies in her spare time, passed both board certifications and started her own business in Huron SD. After High School and during this period Bess had and raised 6 children, 4 boys, 2 girls (Danny, Dana, Dillon, Dawn, Denise, Dennis) and for some reason decided they all had to start with a "D" :).  

On May 6 of 1989, Bess married Rolly Aman of Aberdeen SD.  Bess moved her home and her life to Aberdeen SD. There she set up her business in her home and continued her insurance business for several years until her retirement.  Rolly had been involved in horse racing and Bess loved going to the tracks around the state with him. Bess immediately became a member of the Aberdeen community joining the Dutch's bowling league, joining the Newcomer's group at the United Methodist church, leadership role in the Aberdeen Al-Anon chapter, hosting foreign exchange students 'Pan' and 'OH' and eventually joining a bridge club at the Ramkota and the Senior Center. She loved playing cards and knew just about any card game out there and showing off pictures of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She looked forward to her beauty shop appointments weekly.  She loved crossword puzzles and reading, just to name a few things she loved to do over her life.

Bess had a passion for Church, Christmas and singing carols. She loved interacting with people whomever that maybe. Bess thought it was more important to listen than speaking. Loved sending out cards whether it was for Christmas, birthdays, thinking of you, just because, special occasions and thank you's. Or it could be a phone call just to say HI, to see how one is doing and always ending with 'LOVE YOU MORE'.

She is survived by her husband Rolly Aman, 4 children: Dana (Kathy) Heinzerling, Dawn (Rick) Sass, Denise Purintun, Dennis Heinzerling; 15 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren, and lifelong friend, Dawn Shepard.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Walter and Inez, her siblings: Walter Jr., Rose, Della, Warren, Alice; her two sons: Daniel and Dillon; and one great grandchild, Simon.

There will be a Celebration of Life in Aberdeen, SD sometime in the spring of 2023, details to follow.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Bessie's arrangements.