Mass of Christian burial for Linda (Mentz) Heidinger, age 71, of Cannon Ball, North Dakota will be conducted on January 18, 2022. A private service by the Mentz-Heidinger family and relatives will start at 12:00 pm cst at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge, South Dakota. Burial is scheduled for January 18th at 2:30 pm cst at the Big Lake Cemetery, Cannon Ball, North Dakota under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. Linda passed away on January 10th at the Monument regional Hospital, Rapid City, South Dakota.

Linda (Mentz) Heidinger was born in a two-room log house in Cannon Ball, North Dakota on June 25, 1950, to Basil Alvin Mentz and Alma June (Ramsey) Mentz. Linda was the oldest and only girl of four children in her family coming from the PaTanka (Big Head) and Khangi Waste' (Good Crow) Tiospaye within the Bde Tanka (Big Lake) area. Linda grew up in Cannon Ball raised by her family, her special aunt Beatrice (Ramsey) Grant and her grandmother, Charlotte Laura (Big Head) Ramsey. Linda first attended St. Bernard's Mission school at Fort Yates, later moved to McLaughlin, South Dakota and graduated from McLaughlin High School. Linda went on to Black Hills State College and later finished her four year degree in Bachelor of Science/Elementary Education at Standing Rock Community College; and later went on to achieve her master's degree from Oglala Lakota College (OLC). In her younger years was known to throw a shoe around on the "white dance floor" being a strong lover of rock&roll music. She loved to read, enjoy the natural beauty of Unci Maka and developed into an accomplished artist.

Her love and passion were for her only son Danny and especially her grandchildren. She had a very special loving place for her "elf princess" Beth. She loved all her grandchildren equally and made sure they felt her love for them. Her second passion was her teaching in the elementary level that dominated her life. Linda had a strong interest in the education of our Lakota/Dakota children teaching at the Standing Rock Elementary School and the Fort Yates District Public school both located in Fort Yates, ND; and taught at the Rock Creek Elementary School in Bullhead, South Dakota. Later in life she stepped away from teaching, met the love of her life Bruce Heidinger and retired from teaching but going on to achieve her master's degree from OLC. She devoted her remaining time to Bruce and her cats. She was loved by many who knew her and will be missed.

She is preceded in death by her Parents: Basil A. Mentz and Alma (Ramsey) Mentz; Aunts: Elizabeth (Ramsey) Murphy, Beatrice (Ramsey) Grant; Uncles: Joseph Ramsey, Patrick R. Ramsey, Sidney Ramsey; Cousin: Richard Ramsey; Grand Parents: Charles Ramsey and Charlotte Laura (Big Head) Ramsey; Tom and Louisa (Good Crow) Mentz; Nephews: John Buckley Jr.; Anpetu Ohitika Mentz; Waduta Mentz; Cousin: Melcolm Grant.

Linda's surviving Family: Husband: Bruce Heidinger; Son: Daniel Roberts; Daughter-in-Law: Rhonda Roberts; Grandchildren: James Roberts, Kyle Roberts, Elizabeth Roberts; Sisters: Leah (Grant) Bear Cub and Charlotte Ramsey; Toni Plante; Brothers: Paul "Robert" Grant Jr.; Tim Mentz Sr.; Sister-In-Law: Mary S. Wilson; Nephews: Tim Mentz Jr., Kevin Mentz; Nieces: Bear Cub Girls; All Ramsey Girls; Mary Martha Grant; Tuki Red Cloud; Deanna, Laura, and Thiwakanna Mentz.

Grandchildren: James, Kyle, and Elizabeth Roberts; Parker Mentz, Wacapa, Wa'wanyake Melq'abee, Estavan, Ethan Mentz.Alex Walks; Mandi Paige Pleets Mentz; Cordaero, Kieran and Morgan Angel Tibbitts and Grandchildren; Monique Grant and Family, William Iron Road Jr. and Family, Lindsey Iron Road and Family, Logan Buckley and Family, Angela and Family, Theodore Buckley and Family, Andre Ramsey, and Family; Corey Ramsey, Claude Ramsey Jr.
Relatives: All Ramsey Family and Children, Grandchildren; Ronald and Sandra (Ramsey) Yellow Hammer; Roberta Ramsey and Children-Grandchildren; Neddie and Verlyn Ireland; Taken Alive Tiospaye; Charles W. Murphy and Family, Jamie and Jim Bob Murphy and Family; Misty (John) Wolf Necklace, Dina and Peter Delgado, and sisters Lori, Kimmie and Children; Wolf necklace Children-Grandchildren and Family; Toni Iron Road and Children; Joyce (Faith) Claymore and Family, Carole (Faith) Sanders, Mike Faith and Family; Walker Tiospaye; Diane Medicine Stone and Family; American Horse Tiospaye; Tikanye Tiospaye; Wilbur and Ava Red Tomahawk and Family; Peter and Alvina Red Tomahawk and Family; Seraphine Dogskin and Tiospaye; Mark and Marlene Brown and Family; Elk Tiospaye – Wilson, Jackie and Grandchildren and Families;