The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Each year "The Mountaineer" gathers a committee together and chooses a Mother's Day Mother to honor. This year it was not even a contest. Sherri Heppner won hands down. Read on to find out why.

Sherri and David Heppner have two sons, Calenn and Casten. Calenn is married to Laura. They have four children, Layten, Levi, Lucy and Landry. Casten is married to Katie. Their children are Bailey, Natalie, Cassie, Paezlee and Austin. That should add up to nine grandchildren and that is what is best about being a mother according to Sherri. Being a grandmother.

Asked if she had a favorite grandchild, Sherri looked positively horrified that anyone would think that she had a favorite. Those grandchildren are all loved equally!

In Sherrie's home out of Box Elder, there is sadness and happiness happening right now. After being on the farm for three years, Calenn, Laura and their children are moving to Minneapolis.

Just as they go, a blessing is that Casten and Katie are moving back to the farm.

All that is good for Sherri.

"When I have people and kids everywhere and am cooking big meals for kids and grandkids, that is when I love it most," said Sherri.

Sherri says she expresses her love by cooking big meals.

Recently the family built a cabin at Seeley Lake to use for holidays and when the farm and school work is finished at Box Elder and Big Sandy. Sherri and David have spent many hours building their retreat west of the Rockies.

"I loved it over there at Christmas, Sherri said. "We had sixteen for Christmas. It was packed with people and it was just wonderful!"

Sherri went on to say that the cabin is very tiny but they all could not have spent a better Christmas anywhere.

In addition to husband David and her children and grandchildren, Sherri has been a mother of school kids, staff, teachers and administrators for 32 years.

She said she has gone through eight or nine superintendents. So many that she has lost count of them all. Imagine this. In those 32 years as a secretary and administrative assistant, Sherri has seen many children in the school whose parents she mothered as well. Not any third generation kids so far but they are in the elementary school and not far away.

For that 32 years the school has been one big extended family for Sherri and, as can be imagined, many changes have happened in the 32 years that Sherri has been there.

One person really sticks out in her mind like her own dad. When Jim Barsotti was principal of the school, Sherri was his secretary for eighteen years. In good times and bad, she never forgot what a wonderful man he is. Matter of fact, the two of them still have lunch once a month.

So, what about the husband of this remarkable mom and grandmother?

Sherri says it best in her own words.

"David Heppner is probably one of the most humble, passive and kindest persons ever! I can't even pick a fight with him, he is so kind."

At Box Elder, he is the shop teacher and both make the farm go as well. Having a farm, Sherri said it is always good to have some grandkids around and she hopes that they will be stepping up to the plate on the farm one day.

Sherri's Mom and Dad were instrumental in making her into the mother and grandmother she is. They are Ron and Betty Bitz. They all live close by on the Albert Bitz Farm outside of Box Elder.

"Growing up in my household, I always think that my mother's mother died when my mother was four years old and yet, she found she had the ability to do an amazing job in raising four children," said Sherri.

Those children are Sharla, Larry, Sherri and Karen.

This is the story about a mother who has made a considerable difference wherever she goes and whatever she does. She tried to put into words the secret of her success.

"It is not really a secret," said Sherri. "Raising your kids to know there is something more important than them. I was raised in a Christian home with love. Dave and I have tried to raise our children and grandchildren in a Christian home with love. We have made lots of mistakes. I have made lots of mistakes. Nothing is perfect at our house but there are lots of prayers and that has made all the difference I think."