Billy Heinrich, 49, of Bowman, ND, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at the Southwest Healthcare Hospital in Bowman.

Funeral Services for Billy will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Four Seasons Pavilion in Bowman.  Burial will follow in the Bowman Cemetery.  Visitation for Billy will be on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 from 12-9 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel in Bowman.

Billy's services will be Live-streamed.   We will go live at 10:45am on this link

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.rafferty.984?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Billy – Gaylord William Heinrich was born 12-27-1973 in Bowman, ND, to Karen and Leo Heinrich.
Right out of the chute Billy was met with a few obstacles to overcome that sent him to spend the first two months of his life in the Bismarck Hospital as he was born Post-Mature.
He was such a large baby that his feet had to be straighten back to a forward direction that took many months to correct and once he caught wind of life, he lived it wide open.
Spending his early years attending the School of Promise in Bowman he and his Sister Lori and many others that were students of the school that his parents helped build.  These special students thrived in their communities after their early schooling and high school years.
Billy Loved Special Olympics and often spoke of games in Minot and around the state of North Dakota, Basketball and Bowling were his favorite games to play and do.
Graduating High School as a Bowman Bulldog class of 1993 he was always included in so many things with his classmates and class reunions.  He loved attending sports events of many kinds. And grew into one of the Biggest Green Bay Packers and Twins fans in the country.
Traveling with his Brother in Law to games in Denver against the Donkeys and later on to Minneapolis to the Twins game just this last year.
When Billy wasn't watching baseball games with his Dad, there was usually a football watching party of some kind going on in the living room of the ranch he grew up on.
Billy's love for Ranching and spending time checking and working cattle were his favorite thing to do.
He got the name Gateman as he traveled with his Sister and Brother/Pat checking cattle daily on the ranches. He was always ready to check or work more cows.  His Very last trip to the corrals was this last December when the girls, as he called them were being pregnancy checked and worked.  He wasn't able to help this year…he did have the tagger ready should any cows need new tags.
He was looking very forward to helping tag the new baby calves this spring, as he considered it a sport to see if his oldest Sister could out run the protective momma's yet…and the laughter with the close calls of getting stomped in the mud were worth the trip to the pastures, every time.
The Master in the Sky had other plans for Billy this calving season…Billy was called Home early to run some heavenly gates.
His 8 month battle with a very aggressive rare cancer had him mostly in the house or going to appointments and or in the hospital.
We called Billy's Illness BUGS, because we know in ranching, we can eliminate Bugs and Billy also hated the word cancer as he lost his Mom to an aggressive cancer and we as a family, decided…to help him fight Bugs…vs…battle cancer. And fight he did, with Grit, Grace and a Smile on his Face.  His biggest accomplishment in life was to show the many people following his journey of Facebook…that you can choose to Stay positive daily.  His Mantra was "I'm getting better everyday".
On January 29 ^th he got better.  The Good Lord called him home.
His suffering of daily dressing changes, and  issues were over.  He left his broken body in peace and comfort.
Billy loved spending time with his Sister Lori…they were almost inseparable.  Many hours of Coloring, playing cards, teasing one another, fishing, camping…and planning jokes on the rest of the family, were Sport them.
As a family we were often asked by strangers if they are twins? No, we were blessed twice with two of the most loving individuals we could have been blessed with, is what we'd share.
Billy we believe was met at the gates of Heaven by his Mom, horses, his dogs and others.  Billy was an excellent horseman and team penner…often penning with the adults…and handling himself, his horse and the cattle with ease.
When his Mom got to heaven years ago…when he'd hear thunder he'd look up and say…they're rounding up cattle again…or team penning…with a grin.
Billy was so proud of his Nieces and Nephews…and his Great Nieces and Nephew.  He'd tell anyone who would listen about his nieces and nephews…and often asking his sister to show them pictures from her phone.
Billy was proceeded in death by his Mom, Karen, His Grandparents Gaylord and Myrtle Heinrich and Grandma Helen Anderson.
Many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.
Billy's survivors include His Dad Leo Heinrich, Sisters Lori Heinrich & LeAnne and Brother in Law Patrick Rafferty.
Nieces & Nephews Lindsey and Daniel Grooms and Daughter Rayanna of Glendive MT.
Dusty and Amanda Rafferty and children Audra and Jace of Bowman, ND.
Aunts, Uncles many cousins and the country side filled with many Dear Friends.

Memorials are suggested to the givers choice.