HEILEMANN

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we share the passing of Dorothy Eveline Heilemann of Bentley, Alberta.  Dorothy passed away at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the age of 88 years.

Dorothy was the youngest of four children born in Bentley to Philip and Marjorie Matthews, and she  grew up on the Matthews farm, one mile southwest of Birch Bay, Gull Lake.  She loved horses and all animals.  As a child, she would skip rope on top of one of the work horses going full canter.   

Dorothy met Norbert in her teens, and they were married in February of 1957.  She loved to be outdoors and was very active on the farm while raising four children.  Dorothy ran all farm equipment alongside Norbert, as they were very hard working and passionate about their farm.  Theirs was a mixed farm that included horses, chickens, turkeys, pigs, and milk cows.  Beef and grain were their mainstays in the later years.  Dorothy and Norbert were both very proud to have their farm become an Alberta Century Farm in 2009.

For ten years Dorothy worked as Rimbey’s Early Childhood Services coordinator, and she travelled many miles selling Tupperware.  She was also a talented seamstress, sewing clothes for her children.  Dorothy enjoyed her many years with the Forshee Ladies group, as well as the Symonds Ladies Club.  For a period of time, she was also involved with the Lockhart Ladies TOPS group and the Rimbey Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.  In later years, Dorothy’s garden and flowers were her passion.  She had a green thumb that topped most of us.  For a time, Dorothy and Norbert built and cared for bluebird houses in the local area.  They also enjoyed travelling extensively.

Dorothy will be deeply missed by her husband of nearly 70 years, Norbert; and their four children:  Dale (Joyce), Barbara (Barry), Pauletta (Jim), and Daniel (Lorrie).  She will also be dearly missed by ten grandchildren:  Robert, David, Karen, Bradley, Darren, Shayne, Cayley, Erynn, Kole, and Kiauni; and nine great-grandchildren; in addition to her extended family and many friends.  Dorothy was predeceased by her parents; and her siblings Gladys, Amy, and Richard.

A Memorial Service in Celebration of Dorothy’s Life will be held at the Forshee Community Hall, near Bentley (Blue Sign:  41422 Range Road 20) on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with the Reverend Ray Goodship officiating.  A Family Interment Service will take place later in the Mount Auburn Cemetery, Rimbey.  If desired, memorial donations in Dorothy’s memory may be made directly to the charity of one’s choice.  Thoughts and messages to the family may be shared through the condolence area located at the bottom of this page. 

Service and Cremation Arrangements for the late Dorothy Eveline Heilemann entrusted to the care of