Leo Laverne Heckel

Leo Laverne Heckel, 95 , of Bella Vista, Arkansas died January 15, 2016. He was born on September 21, 1920 in Faith, South Dakota to Frank Heckel and Mary Burg Heckel. He was raised and educated on a ranch in Faith, South Dakota. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea, where he met a friend Fritz and began writing to his sister, Angeline. When he returned to the U.S., he attended Auto Body Repair School in Fargo, North Dakota and worked in Dickinson, North Dakota. He married Angie on September 21, 1954 at St. Agatha's Catholic Church, Hope, North Dakota. They lived in Hope, North Dakota for 25 years and later in Finley, North Dakota, until moving to Bella Vista, Arkansas in 1988. He is survived by his loving wife, Angie Heckel of Bella Vista, Arkansas; two daughters, Valerie Bergman of Texas, Marlene Morrison of Fargo, North Dakota; six grandchildren, Michael, Katie, Naomi, Matthew, Shawn, Piper; and three great-grandchildren, Emily, Ryley and Mykel. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m., January 21, 2016 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, One St. Bernard Lane, Bella Vista, Arkansas. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, Bella Vista, Arkansas. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.