Funeral Service for Gail Elaine Heis, 43, of Hankinson, ND will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. at the Enemy Swim Cultural Center, Enemy Swim, SD with the Pastor Amos Roberts III and Rev. Les Campbell officiating. Drum music by Dennis Gill Sr. Pallbearers will be Tyler Birney, Jamie Birney, Brice Roberts, Brian BlueDog, Rex Birney, Brad Cloud, Broderick Roberts, and Paul Marlow. Honorary Pallbearers will be Michelle Bressette, Kelley Many Lightings, Janet Brown, Robin Robertson, Angela Redday, Tara BearHead, Nancy Wallenstein, Wanda LaBatte, Georgia Wright, Barb Wolfe, Imelda Ryan, Tootie Berger and Moshall White. Interment will be in the Robert's Family Cemetery, Waubay, SD. There will be a Wake Service on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. at the Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD. There will be an all night wake on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. at the Enemy Swim Cultural Center, Enemy Swim, SD. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.
Gail was born on December 17, 1965 in Sisseton, SD to Emmett and Jerena (BlueDog) Roberts. Gail grew up and attended school in Waubay, SD and Haskell Indian College. Following her education she started working at Dakota Sioux Casino working there from 1990 until 1998. In July 12, 1999 she was married to Joel Heis in Watertown, SD. The couple worked at Dakota Sioux Casino then they moved to Hankinson where they worked at Dakota Magic Casino. They also worked at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, then returned to Hankinson and went to work again for Dakota Magic Casino until the time of her death. She liked to watch TV, especially Charmed, and Golden Girls, she liked to play games with her daughter and loved to spend time with her daughter and visit with folks. Gail passed away on December 7, 2009 unexpectedly at the St. Francis Health Care Campus, Breckenridge, MN from an apparent heart attack.
Gail is survived by her husband, Joel Heis of Hankinson, ND; one daughter, Jordan Heis of Hankinson, ND; six sisters, Sandra Melius of Topeka, KS, Stefania BlueDog of Granite Falls, MN, Jackie Birney of Ortley, SD, Bridget Roberts of Sioux Falls, SD, Rachel Roberts of Pierre, SD and Roxanne Roberts of Waubay, SD; three brothers, Kurt BlueDog of Wayzata, MN, Kevin Roberts of Waubay, SD and Michael Roberts of Savage, MN.
Gail was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Sheila and Gwen, and two brothers, Keith V. and Keith K. Roberts.