Herbert Herman
102, formerly of Gackle, and
recently of Bismarck, passed away early Sunday morning, Feb.
11, 2018. Herbert was hospitalized in San Jose, Calif., at
the time of his death. He was born on a farm south of Gackle
on Dec. 24, 1915, to Jacob and Ottille (Roloff) Herman. His
parents moved to Gackle when Herbert was school age. He
graduated from Gackle High School in 1935.
After graduation, he joined the Civil Conservation Corps and
was assigned to CCC Camp #2765 in Wishek, to build stock
dams. The Camp moved to Camp Crook, S.D., where they did
forest work making fence posts and telephone poles. In 1938,
Herbert’s Camp moved to Fort Meade in Sturgis, S.D., where
Herbert helped organize provisions for 27 CCC camps located
in the Black Hills. He taught rural school in Logan County
from 1938 to 1940. Herbert attended Valley City State
Teacher’s College from 1940-1942 when he was drafted by the
U.S. Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Herbert served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. He
received his basic training at Camp Wallace, Texas. In 1943,
he was transferred to Fort Stewart, Ga., where he was
assigned to Headquarters Company for the duration of his
Army career. He did office work and was assigned the job of
interpreter for the German POWs at Fort Stewart. After the
war, Herbert helped move the POWs to Fort Benning, Ga., for
transport back to Germany. Herbert was discharged from Fort
McCoy, Wis., in 1946 as a tech sergeant.
He returned to North Dakota in May 1946, and got a job as
clerk in the Gackle post office. When the postmaster left
the job, Herbert was appointed acting postmaster in 1947,
and was permanently appointed by President Harry Truman in
1949. He held this position until his retirement in January
1981. Herbert served the U.S. federal government in his
various jobs for a total of 41 years.
Herbert met Reva “MaryEt" Johnson in LaCrosse, Wis., in
1944, when he was on furlough and returning to Fort Stewart
after visiting his parents in North Dakota. He was
introduced to MaryEt by his Army friend, John McConaughey
and his wife, Gladys, who was a friend of MaryEts. The four
were sharing expenses
traveling back to Georgia. MaryEt was going to visit her
brother who was stationed in Kentucky. Herbert and John and
Gladys McConaughey were returning for duty at Fort Stewart.
From then on, a friendship and correspondence developed
between Herbert and MaryEt and the couple was married Oct.
25, 1947.
Herbert and MaryEt shared a zest for life, adventure and
travel which took them throughout the United States, Canada,
and even some world travel. They always wanted to see what
was over the next hill! MaryEt passed away June 7, 1993.
After her death, Herbert continued to live in Gackle until
he sold his home in 2012. From then on, he split his time
traveling and “wintering” in California and “summering” in
North Dakota.
Herbert loved sports and golfed well into his 90s. He was a
Packers and Twins fan and loved
spring training for baseball. Trips to national parks topped his travel
list. He became fascinated with family genealogy and
researched the Herman and Roloff Family history and recorded
his findings in two published journals. In later years, he
took up quilting and made charity quilts for children in
need and military veterans.
Herbert is survived by a daughter, Melinda (Charles) Snell,
Bismarck; and a son, Herbert Jr. (Stephanie), San Jose; and
six step-grandchildren, Larry Miller, N.D., Debbie Kelly,
Wyo., Richard Snell, Mont., Steve Snell, Mont., Rashad and
Belle, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Ottille;
his baby sister, Hulda; his wife, MaryEt; his son-in-law,
Charles; three brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; and
many family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to
the Anne Carlsen Children’s Center in Jamestown, and Emanuel
Lutheran Church in Gackle.
General Information about Herbert Herman |
Occupation(s)
Farm work (Gackle, North Dakota; Boardand Room; 50 cents per
day)
CCC Civilian Conservation Corps (Wishek, North Dakota and
Camp Crooke, South
Dakota; $30 a month)
US Army (World War II; Camp Wallace, Texas, and Ft. Steward,
Georgia
US Postal Service Clerk and Postmaster (59 cents per hours
to 22,000 per year in
Gackle, North Dakota)
Rural School Teacher -(Logan County, $50 per month, Logan
County
Retired at age 65
Religion: Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Schooling (list all schools attended, the dates of
attendance, and note the level of
education you have completed):
Gackle Public School (1922 to 1931; completed 8th grade)
Gackle High School (1931 to 1935; completed high school)
Valley City State Teacher College (1939 to 1942; 2 year
degree)
Clubs and Organizations (note dates of memberships and
offices held):
High School Class -(junior and senior; Secretary and
Treasurer; 1933 - 1935)
Non-Commissioned Officer Club (1943 - 1946)
American Legion (Mayor; Morlock Post 250, Gackle, North
Dakota; 1946 - 2005)
Gackle Public School Distrcit (Secretary; 1947 - 1965)
Gackle Volunteer Fire Department
Gackel Commerical Club (Secretary; 1947 - 1981)
Gackle Cemetery Board (1995 - 2005)
Logan County Council on Aging (Secretary and Treasurer;
2000)
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at
Emanuel Lutheran Church in Gackle.
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