Lynette Diane Heitz, of Mina, passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2022 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital of Rochester, Minn., at the age of 67. Lynette passed away peacefully, after a long and arduous fight with cancer, and had her beloved husband of 46 years, Harlan Heitz, by her side.

Lynette was born on April 20, 1954, in Aberdeen to Arvid Lowell and Shirley Darlene Sime. She attended Richland Country School and graduated from Ipswich High School with the class of 1972. Following graduation, Lynette attended one year at Bartlesville Wesleyan College in Bartlesville, Okla. She dearly missed her family and friends and soon transferred to Northern State University in Aberdeen, where she finished earning her teaching degree. After graduating, Lynette taught school at Polo High School in Polo, for one year and then moved to teach school in Conde. Lynette taught all the general school subjects, worked in the library, and additionally, taught business and accounting classes. After four years in Conde, Lynette worked as the Executive Secretary at the Ipswich State Bank in Ipswich for eight and a half years. She enjoyed her work at the bank, however, upon the discovery that she would not be able to have her own children, Lynette threw her heart and soul back into education by loving and serving the students of Ipswich High School. She worked hard at her job in Ipswich, where she served as the Business and Computer teacher as well as the FBLA supervisor and helped build one of the strongest FBLA programs in the state of South Dakota. In May of 2009, Lynette earned her Master's degree in Informational Technologies from Dakota State University in Madison.

Lynette joyfully cared for the students of Ipswich for 30 years before her retirement in June of 2020. She considered her career with great honor and pride, and she never ceased to give her full dedication to the Lord, her family and friends, as well as her students.

On June 27, 1975, Lynette married her high school sweetheart, Harlan Heitz, at Richland Church in Mina. They made their home together on a beautiful stretch of land adjacent to Lynette's family farm in Mina, and were lovingly dedicated to one another for 46 years.

Lynette spent her life loving, serving and honoring her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As a fervent Christ-follower, Lynette was a member of Richland Church, where she served and helped with countless church projects, including communion service preparation and Vacation Bible School. In addition, Lynette served the Lord as part of her everyday life. Her faith in Christ was steadfast. Despite her deteriorating health conditions, she remained faithful in trusting God for His plan and provision!

Among Lynette's hobbies were gardening and planting flowers, cooking and canning, pottery/ painting, reading, spending time with her family, attending NSU Wolves sporting events, cheering for her Green Bay Packers, and collecting all things watermelon!

Lynette was a loving and caring wife, a kind sister and aunt, a devoted educator, and she never missed an opportunity to spend quality time learning about and loving the people God had placed in her path.

Lynette was preceded in death by her father, Arvid Lowell Sime. Lynette had a loving relationship with her father. Arvid cherished his little girl, and Lynette grew and lived in the same passionate pursuit of Christ as her father.

Lynette is survived and will be greatly missed by her husband, Harlan Heitz of Mina; her mother, Shirley Sime of Aberdeen; her brother, Larry and Cindy Sime of Mina; her nephew, Ryan and Tanya Sime of Mina; her great-niece and nephew, Chloe and Simeon Sime of Mina; and nephew, Taylor Sime of Aberdeen; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Warren and Deb Heitz of Aberdeen, Gary and Arlene Heitz of Springfield, Mo., Carolyn (Jim-dec.) Hamak of Deadwood, Ed and Mary Sorenson of Richfield, Minn., Myrna (Vernie-dec.) Stillings of Salina, Kan., and Elda and Ron Hoffer of Roscoe, in addition to many nieces, nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews.

Public visitation will be at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home 1111 South Main Street in Aberdeen, from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2022, with the family present from 5-7 p.m.

Funeral services for Lynette will be on Friday, April 22, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Richland Church in Mina, with Pastor Jason Dignan and Pastor Ron Wickard officiating. This service will be livestreamed at http://www.spitzerfuneralhome.com.

Graveside burial will follow at the Richland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be made to Richland Church in Mina.