Someday I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me,
Somewhere over the rainbow
‘What a Wonderful World’
Heidi JoAnne Makela was a classic, right down to her penny loafers and pearls. She was the oldest of nine children, born in her father’s home state of Minnesota and raised from the age of 10 in her mother’s home state of Montana. And though she wasn’t the black sheep of the family, she certainly would want you to know she was the blondest.
Heidi’s tireless work ethic was second to none and was honed early. She begged her parents to let her get a paper route in 5th grade, which started a family tradition and led to eight years of continuous, pre-dawn wakeups. She also worked at Dairy Queen and Mountain Good Restaurant while balancing school, playing softball, being a basketball manager and taking on baby-sitting gigs.
After graduating from Jefferson High in 1987, she attended Montana State University for a year before working many years as a nanny. Eventually, Heidi would obtain a degree in human resources from University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She settled in North Dakota for the last decade and a half of her life, which was perfectly fitting, as it was between her two beloved families in Minnesota and Montana.
Heidi was known for her generosity and the ease with which she was a caretaker — not only for her grandparents, but her siblings, her nieces and nephews, and her co-workers. Her love and dedication to her family is legendary. So many fond memories remain within our house in Boulder – baking, playing countless card games and chatting over our daily lives.
Though Heidi had no children of her own, she certainly was a “fairy godmother” to us all. We will never forget her magic. It was her element. She was the best aunt, the most joyful, amazing person you could find. She would spend days traveling to be part of her nieces’ and nephews’ sporting events and activities. She made each and every one of them feel just as important as the other. She taught some of the nieces and nephews about gambling and would find herself buying them scratch tickets. If they won, she let them keep the money. Others remember the amazing times they had with her and the incredible places they went like Virginia City, basketball games, or dropping her off at the airport.
Heidi’s spontaneous personality is a legacy we can never forget. She never shied away from showing her silly side, telling jokes or pulling funny faces or voices. Her colorful glasses easily matched her energy and reflected how she saw this beautiful world. If you can imagine, she didn’t hesitate a moment to join her siblings skydiving in Oregon. That was her, living every free moment. Her ability to look at the beauty of the world with childlike wonder was contagious. She was full of sarcasm, wit, and…sports statistics. She was non judgemental in her demeanor which made her easy to confide in and great at her job.
Heidi was proudest of her travels and adventures. She inherited her father’s wandering spirit and she lived life to the fullest, settling in no less than nine different states. From the East Coast to the West, to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to visit her family in Hawaii, she made it to every U.S. state but Alaska. In the last few years, she scoured the vastness of Montana with her siblings – all the backroads, highways, mom and pop shops, and cafes. She could experience more in a year than some do in one lifetime. We are all so grateful for these precious memories.
Heidi was a woman of substance who set a fine example for her siblings. She taught us about the wide range of life’s experiences, from the joys of the finest champagne to an appreciation for the diviest of dives. She was a patron of the arts, sharing the joy of theatrical productions, museums and galleries, as well as fostering a well rounded taste in music. She was a wonderful photographer, graciously taking the time to teach those skills to her siblings.
Sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye to someone as wonderful as Heidi, but we all know this isn’t a goodbye. It’s simply a remembrance of who she was as a person and looking up to how she lived her life. One day we all will see her again, but in a different world. Now we can share the memories that lie in our hearts with one another and be grateful for the existence of the most loving aunt, sister, daughter, friend, and much more. Heidi, you were one of a kind and we all hope that you know the legacy and greatness that you have left behind. Heaven truly did gain such an incredible soul.
Well I see trees of green and red roses too
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world
