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Robert and Helen Heikens

Robert and Helen Heikens
Bob was an avid bowler in the Nashua league for over 50 years and Helen was involved in the church, the community women’s club and was an avid seamstress and quilter. They raised four children in the Nashua community. They were very supportive parents and made sure their children were involved in many clubs and organizations. They were also diehard Porkie fans and, for years, never missed a sporting event. They both loved to travel and Bob enjoyed driving so, over the years, they made several trips across the country visiting friends and relatives along the way. They often said the only part of America they hadn’t seen were the New England states. In the winters, they became Montana snowbirds and joined their friends in Apache Junction, Ariz., enjoying the sun and fun. When their youngest daughter was diagnosed with cancer, all of their efforts went into helping her and her family and, when she died, they became her daughter Jennifer’s parents. Once again, they became involved in Nashua High School activities and their home was a welcome place for another generation of teenagers. At that time, Bob retired and they moved from the farm into Nashua and remodeled
Robert and Helen Heikens
Bob was an avid bowler in the Nashua league for over 50 years and Helen was involved in the church, the community women’s club and was an avid seamstress and quilter. They raised four children in the Nashua community. They were very supportive parents and made sure their children were involved in many clubs and organizations. They were also diehard Porkie fans and, for years, never missed a sporting event. They both loved to travel and Bob enjoyed driving so, over the years, they made several trips across the country visiting friends and relatives along the way. They often said the only part of America they hadn’t seen were the New England states. In the winters, they became Montana snowbirds and joined their friends in Apache Junction, Ariz., enjoying the sun and fun. When their youngest daughter was diagnosed with cancer, all of their efforts went into helping her and her family and, when she died, they became her daughter Jennifer’s parents. Once again, they became involved in Nashua High School activities and their home was a welcome place for another generation of teenagers. At that time, Bob retired and they moved from the farm into Nashua and remodeled

Robert Harold “Bob” Heikens, 92, died July 23, 2022, in an automobile accident outside of the town of Nashua. His wife, Helen Marie Lauckner Heikens, also died in the same incident.

He was born Sept. 19, 1929, in Glasgow to Mike and Sylvia Heikens. Helen was born May 17, 1935, in Grand Rapids, Minn., to William and Hilda Lauckner.

Both Helen and Bob attended Nashua Public Schools, where he graduated in 1947 and she in 1953.

After high school, Bob spent time traveling and working in Iowa and California until he returned to full-time farming in the Center community southwest of Nashua.

Helen grew up cooking for threshing crews and worked as a secretary in Glasgow after graduation.

They met at a Webb Pierce concert and, several dances and dates later, they were married on Nov. 20, 1954.

In addition to farming with his brothers Al and Don, Bob was a board member for both the irrigation district and Nemont Telephone Company for 40 years.

Helen was a quintessential farm wife who planted huge gardens, raised chickens, provided three meals a day and was the cake decorating lady for over 20 years.


the home they shared for the next 20 years. In retirement, they were active members of the Nashua Senior Center and Grace LutheranChurch. He spent hours in his woodshop, crafting seasonal decorations that became a fixture on the main street of town. Helen continued her sewing and quilting projects and both were competitive pinochle players. One of their greatest joys was working together in the garden and they kept busy “irrigating” and tending the vegetables and flowers. In March 2022, they moved into an apartment at Prairie Ridge Assisted Living in Glasgow. Their new community welcomed them with good meals, friends and lots of activities. They mentioned numerous times they were so lucky to have each other as they embraced this new phase of their lives. They cherished visits from family both in person and via phone calls and video chats. Helen and Bob were a testament to a successful marriage in their dependence on each other but yet there was an independent streak in each of them. Preceding them in death was their daughter, Ann Willis. They are survived by their children, Gayle Breding of Billings, Michael Heikens of Sorrento, Fla., and Betty Jo Nelson Anaconda; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Helen is survived by her brothers, William Lauckner and Andy Lauckner. A joint memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 6, at Our Redeemer Church in Nashua at 10 a.m. Inurnment will be at 11 a.m. at the Nashua Cemetery.

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