22 March 1926 – 28 July 2012
Herb age 86
Herb and Grace 1946
Herb was born on his family farm outside Wadena, Minnesota, where he grew up. He left home at 16 and worked in the Portland Oregon shipyards, enlisting in the US Navy early in 1944. He served on the USS Massachusetts in the Pacific until the end of the war, and was on the USS Dixie when she was present at Bikini Atoll for the atomic bomb tests.
He married Grace Meninick in Yuma, Arizona, in 1946. They were the parents of 7 children, 6 of whom survived to adulthood. Herb returned to the US Navy at the outbreak of the Korean War and served until 1965. He worked for two years on the oil rigs in Alaska. In 1970 the family moved to Marysville, Washington, where Herb built two homes, and lived until 2003.
Herb and Jill, Sept. 14th 2002
Herb was a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he and Grace served as missionaries in the Philippines, and on the Navajo Reservation. Herb was known in his family as the man who could repair or build anything. Grace passed away on July 29, 2000. He served a final mission in Jamaica with his second wife, Jill Bleakley Elmer, whom he married in 2002. Upon their return they settled in Perry, Utah, where they have lived since 2006.
Herb is survived by his wife Jill; his seven sisters: Marian (Larry) Johnston, Olga Schwartz, Anita Johnston, Naomi Frye, Helen (Don) Harvey, Carol (Lynn) Spencer, Verlie (Dick) Breuer; and his children Jerry (Laurel) Goedel, Cherie Farris, Gloria (Harold) Humphries, Terry(Joan) Goedel, Lorna Henry, 30 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Herb was preceded in death by his wife Grace, son Oscar, and daughter Toneena Lee.
Funeral services will be held in Marysville on Friday, August 3. The viewing will be from 10.00 -10:45 am. The service will be at 11.00 am. at the LDS Church 5212 7th Ave., Marysville WA 98271. Burial will follow at the Mission Beach Tribal Cemetery with full military honors. There will also be services August 11, 2012 at the Three Mile Creek LDS Church; 1290 W 2950 S, Perry. Visitation, 9:30 to 10:45am; Memorial service 11:00 a.m.