Heidi Kathleen Cauley was born on January 27, 1982, in Concordia, Kansas, to David and Karla (Ryser) Cauley. She was confirmed at the Dawson Covenant Church. She attended the Dawson-Boyd Elementary School and was a junior at the Minnesota Valley School.
Heidi died as a result of an automobile accident in Maxwell Township, rural Dawson, on Friday, June 19, 1998, at the age of 16 years, 4 months, and 22 days.
She is survived by her mother, Karla Cauley, of rural Dawson; father, David Cauley, of Sioux Falls, SD; 3 brothers: Clifford Cauley of Minnetonka, MN, Tony Cauley of St. Cloud, MN, and Andy Cauley of Sioux Falls, SD; grandmother, Ruth Ryser of Beloit, Kansas; many aunts, uncles, cousins, other family and friends including Paul Johnson and Rebecca Beard.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Edward Ryser, and paternal grandparents: Mary Lois and Obie B. Cauley.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.PM. on Tuesday, June 23, 1998, at the Dawson Covenant Church with Rev. John Norland officiating. The congregational hymns of "Amazing Grace" and"Borning Cry" were accompanied by the organist, Janis Hanson. The recorded songs of "Tears in Heaven" and "Wind Beneath My Wings" were played as special music. The casketbearers were Ryan Rosenberger, J.R. Brown, Jason Kaehler, David Lien, Danny Lien, and Steve Schwartz. As part of the service at the Dawson Covenant Church Cemetery everyone sang "Jesus Loves the Little Children".