Richard Heisler

Richard “Ducky” Heisler, 92, from White Earth, MN passed away on October 14, 2024. 

Ducky was born to William J. Heisler and Stella (Warren) Heisler on January 10, 1932. He grew up in White Earth, attended the White Earth Mission school, and graduated from Waubun High school. After graduation he went on to attend college at Moorhead State and Valley City State. 

Ducky held a vast array of jobs before enlisting in the Navy from 1951-1955, he was a Signalman and sailed around the world on the Aircraft carrier USS Saipan! He was very proud of his service and experiences and always had a good story to go along with those memories, and of course his infectious laugh that you could not help but giggle with. After getting out of the Navy, he moved to Pierre SD to be a Boys Dorm Supervisor at the Pierre Indian school. This was a job he loved and spoke often of the experiences with the boys there. He then moved to Aberdeen SD where he was a Classification Specialist for the Bureau of Indian affairs until his retirement in 1985.  

Ducky met the love of his life Mary Whitsitt while in SD and they married on July 19, 1974. They lived in Pierre & Aberdeen SD and then decided to move back home to the White Earth Indian Reservation, where Ducky was born and raised. He was a proud member of the White Earth Tribe; it was also where they would build their beautiful home on Dan Brown Lake. 

He thoroughly enjoyed life with his wife Mary, brothers & sisters and their families that he treated like his own. Ducky’s kind, caring nature, infectious laugh and zest for life and those amazing stories of days gone by were felt by all those that knew him. He loved those fishing trips to Alaska and Canada, hunting pheasants, going on casino adventures and many more with his family and friends.  

Above anything else, Ducky cherished his family and the precious time he got to spend with them. His wife Mary was his best friend, and it would often be heard ringing through their home “hello my love”. And his daughter, Lisa and her daughters were a special joy in his life. 

Surviving Ducky is his wife of 50 years, Mary, his daughter Lisa Heisler of Moorhead, his granddaughters Jenna and Brittany, his brothers Stanley “Rob” Heisler (Cleone), James Heisler (Laverne), Sister- in- law Dorothy Heisler, a treasure trove of nieces and nephews and greats, who were all special to him in their own way.  

He joins his parents, Brothers - Jiggs, John, Bud and Vernon Heisler, Sisters – Pearl Fabre, Doris Drinkwine, Harriet Stech and Jane Christofferson for a heavenly reunion. 

We will always treasure the precious memories he shared. We wish there was one more day, one more story, one more hug, one more belly laugh, one more kiss on the lips, and one more “Mighty Fine”. God bless the memory of our precious uncle Ducky. He Lived a wonderful life full of contagious Laughter and unconditional Love.