Eugenia "Gieni" Heller, 87, Spearfish and formerly of Lead, died Saturday, August 10, 2013, at her home surrounded by family and under the loving care of caregivers from the Hospice of the Northern Hills.

Gieni was born to Theodore and Eva Zerebecka on August 19, 1925 in Lvov, Ukraine. She left Ukraine at the age of 13 to go to Germany with friends to go to school and in the hopes of finding work. She was never able to return to her family because WW II started and her family and whole village were sent to Siberia. Gieni found work but it was in slave labor camps and factories in support of Hitler's takeover. Gieni survived the War, unlike 60 million civilians in Europe who did not. Gieni always felt God was beside her through these ten years of terrible working conditions and many health issues and the loss of being with her family.

The greatest blessing was dating an American soldier, Delbert Heller, in Germany near the end of the War. Gieni and Delbert married in Germany on June 5, 1948. They made their home in South Dakota and she embraced her new freedom and her new home. Gieni became a naturalized citizen on June 10, 1958. She would fly the American flag every day.

Sixty years after leaving her homeland and family she returned to the Ukraine. She was 73 years old and was reunited with her two brothers, Ivan and Slavko Zerebecka. This reunion to connect with her family and where she spent her early childhood was tearful and joyous for Gieni.

Despite many health issues including TB of the bone and almost total loss of hearing at the age of 45, Gieni was a hard worker, loved her family, and loved God. She learned to sew, upholster, outdoor gardening, cook and bake. She was known for her baked goods and her exceptional cooking. As a long time resident of Lead, she was active in the First Lutheran Church and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Moose Lodge. She was currently a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spearfish.

Those grateful for having shared her life are her three daughters; Linda (Terry) Schofield, Midland, SD; Sandra Ricketts, Beaver, PA; and Cindy (Bruce) Delahoyde, Spearfish, SD; 14 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, and 19 great-grand children; a brother, Ivan Zerebecka, Lvov, Ukraine; three sisters-in-law; Evelyn Starzl and Lorene Heller, both of DeSmet, SD and Eva Zerebecka, Ukraine; and numerous nieces and nephews in Ukraine, Canada and United States.

Gieni was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Delbert in 2000, her son, Delbert, Jr. in 1999; her brother, Slavko in 2011, a brother, Petro and sister, Annie in the Ukraine during the War; her son-in -law, Jim Ricketts in 2004, her cousin, Peter Kruk and his wife, Anita from Canada.

Visitation will be from 4-6pm, Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish.

Funeral services will be at 10am, Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Spearfish. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in memory of Gieni Heller may be made to the Hospice of the Northern Hills, 1440 N Main St. Spearfish, SD 57783 or Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1020 State St. Spearfish, SD 57783