Kristine Lynn Heeren went to her heavenly home on January 13, 2017 at the age of 54. In November of 2013, Kris was diagnosed with colon cancer. She valiantly lived the following three years through multiple treatment and surgeries. In December 2016 she moved into the Avera Dougherty Hospice House.
In 1983, she spent a year traveling throughout the US and Canada with the NAB New Day Ministry. She served on the Discipleship team where she led seminars on outreach and evangelism. This is also where she met her future husband, Clayton, who was on the music team. This led her to South Dakota where she taught for two years as a 6th grade teacher at Dell Rapids Elementary School.
Kris and Clayton were married on August 20, 1988 at Trinity Baptist in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1989 they welcomed their first child, Chelsea, followed by Micah in 1991 and their “bonus” child, Savannah in 2000.
Kris was preceded in death by her mother, Judith in 1969 and her father, Herbert in 2016. She is survived by her husband Clayton, daughter Chelsea Redinger (Michael), son Micah (Anna Bartscher) and daughter Savannah; one granddaughter Ellis; brother Jeff Berndt and sister Julie Berndt; several extended family members, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 7:00 PM at Central Baptist Church in Sioux Falls on Tuesday, January 17. Visitation will begin at 3:00 PM and dinner will be served from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. A time of fellowship and dessert will follow the Celebration of Life Service. A private interment will be held at Chancellor Baptist Cemetery. On-line condolences may be left at the Heritage Funeral Home website.
Memorials may be directed to the Good News Church Journey Scholarship Fund.