Heather Marie Madsen
August 24, 1983 - April 13, 2023
Humble, Texas - Heather Marie Tedder Madsen was born on August 24, 1983, to Lynn and Dedra (Moore) Tedder in Wichita, Kansas. She passed away unexpectedly on April 13, 2023, in Humble, Texas. Heather graduated from Northwest High School in 2001 and Friends University in 2008. While Heather was passionate about all things Harry Potter and Kansas City Chiefs, the deepest joy in her life was found in raising and loving her children.
Heather married Shawn Ross Madsen in 2007 and to this union four children were born, Daniel 15, Albert 13, Maggie 9, and Olivia 7. In addition to her four children, Heather is also survived by her husband Eric Mikesell of Humble, Texas, her stepchildren Zoe, Benjamin, and Stephen Mikesell of Texas, and her bonus daughter, LaVette (Nicholas) Bland and granddaughter Sofia of McClouth, Kansas.
Other survivors include her father and stepmother Lynn and Karla Tedder of Andover, Kansas, her brother Joshua (Jayne) Tedder of Kansas City Missouri; stepbrother Andrew Lumsden of Des Loge, Missouri; stepsisters Heidi Holton of Wichita, Kansas, Jacqueline (Michael) Knight of St. Louis, Missouri; Kim Lumsden (Matthew) of Florida; and Kristin (Matthew) Libby of Florida.
Heather is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. Heather was preceded in death by her husband Shawn in 2018, her mother Dedra in 2003, her maternal grandparents Albert and Maureen Moore, and her paternal grandparents Bryan and Anna Jean Tedder. While we miss Heather greatly, her memory will be cherished forever in her children, family, and friends for years to come.
A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24 at Cross Road Church 2139 South Maize Road in Wichita, Kansas. A private burial will be held at a later date.
A memorial for Heather's children has been established. The Madsen Children Memorial Fund, Southwest National Bank. PO Box 1401, Wichita, KS 67201.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Wichita Eagle on Jun. 10, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Heather Madsen

4 Entries

Zoe Sikorski

June 21, 2023

Heather was such a ray of sunshine. This will never feel real. She loved me when I had no one to lean on. I will forever be grateful.

The Tedder Family

Sent Flowers

Dan Madsen

June 16, 2023

MOMENTS WITH MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
by Daniel Ross Madsen

Maxine and I were aboard the flight back from Houston with the children, flying high above the clouds. When talking had quieted down, I looked out the window, and where the clouds parted, I saw small slices, patches, even large patches of brilliant, glowing blue.

That sight, I thought, was like Heather. She was sometimes shrouded by clouds, but there was always beauty inside. That beauty could be seen in the small things she did, in the large things, in the rocks she hand painted that lined her walkway or became centerpieces on her table or gifts wrapped in a box, with hand-lettered calligraphy, brilliant colors, blues, reds, greens, pink, turquoise, and of course purple; ordinary garden variety rocks she turned into pieces of art. There was beauty in her love of sunflowers, in the intricately decorated wooden puzzles she patiently pieced together, in her plants she carefully paired and grouped into complementing, neat, living arrangements, in the terrarium we gave her for Christmas one year with the life she planted within that sustained itself.

I sometimes think of Heather in moments, happy moments, sad moments, laughing moments, moments such as when she got my humor, which escapes many. But she got it. I would say something, watch it settle in, see her smile and laugh. I remember the moments she would share with us when she FaceTimed soccer games or a concert from Texas, or the children opening Christmas presents, eating birthday ice cream cakes, so that we could participate without being there; the moments when she sent a video of the children singing happy birthday to Gramps or photos or videos of the children´s activities on a fun day, like at the Gulf shore.

And, moments during Chiefs´ games when we would text comments about something that had happened on the field, a touchdown, a missed field goal. It was her enthusiasm for the Chiefs that got me following them. After she moved to Houston and the Chiefs played The Houston Texans, I texted her, "Split loyalties?" She quickly replied with a "No."

Watching the NFL will be harder this year, especially Chiefs games. Maxine and I may not watch at all.

I think about the moments she and I would talk about things, various topics and the moment she told me she loved those times and could spend hours talking with me.

I think of the moment around what would have been Shawn´s birthday last year when Heather told us, as funny as it may sound, she said, Shawn really was the love of her life and she missed him every day. She worked hard to keep him alive in their children´s memories. I know they have caught up with each other and have patched things up.

I think of moments when she needed comfort and reassurance-which she would never admit she needed, you just had to feel it for yourself-or when she wanted to comfort us, especially at the time of Maxine´s recent surgery, when in those still moments instead of calling us by name, she called us Mama or Dad and touched our hearts. The last words she ever spoke to Maxine at the end of a late night FaceTime call not long before she died were, "I love you, Mama." Those precious words echo in Maxine´s ears and will never be silenced.

Heather viewed the world in her own way, a Heather-esque way. She wanted the world to be a magical place, full of color. She wanted the real world to be like DisneyWorld, where everything is happy and dreams come true. Only they don´t always, and sometimes disappointment sets in.

To Heather, her children, Daniel II, Albert, Maggie, and Olivia were no less than magical. They were her real world.

Restlessness stirred inside her that always made her dream of better things. I know not to say Rest, Weary One, because where she is now, I know she´s dreaming up something, concocting something, and in due time I want her to tell me about it. So, don´t rest in peace, Heather. Dream on in peace, and fill me in when we´re all together again.

Today, I feel the world is worth a lot less. I love you, Heather, and miss you. You will always be my daughter-in-law.

Dennis and Teresa Ulrich

June 10, 2023

Our thoughts and prayers for the Tedder and Madsen families. Though we did not know Heather, we know that she was loved deeply by the Madsen family and that her life made a great impact on those around her and the lives of her precious children. May the memories that linger be those of joy and laughter, and of unconditional love.

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