Elton Marvin Herman

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Mass of Christian burial for Elton Marvin Herman, 92, of Gillette, WY, and formerly of Aberdeen, will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Ave SE, Aberdeen, with Father Barry Reuwsaat as celebrant.

Interment, with military honors, will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow the interment at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, at Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary, followed by a liturgical wake service and Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Saturday.

Elton was welcomed into heaven on Saturday, November 26, 2016, following a brief illness.  Blessed be his memory.

Elton Marvin Herman was born on April 18, 1924, in Tolstoy, SD, to Fred and Mary (Hettich) Herman.  He attended school in Onaka, SD.  Elton worked on the farm until being drafted into the United States Army at the age of 24.

Elton met his wife, Rita Marie Hammrich, at the Roof Garden Dance Hall in Aberdeen.  They were married on November 23, 1954, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Their union was blessed with four daughters.

Elton served his country in the United States Army for 23 years.  During that time, he served in the occupational forces in Japan, the Korean War, and two tours in Vietnam.  He and his family also enjoyed two years while stationed in Germany and were fortunate to travel throughout Europe.  Elton retired from the US Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW03), while stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO.  He worked briefly for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad before becoming one of the first people hired by Exxon at the uranium mine and mill near Glenrock, WY.  Elton retired from Exxon after 18 years, when they converted to solution mining.

During his retirement years, Elton generously volunteered his time and talent to a variety of community organizations where he lived.  He was most recently a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Casper, WY, where he volunteered for 18 years counting money and also volunteered for 10 years in Casper’s American Legion Honor Guard.  While living in Aberdeen, Elton was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he served as an usher for many years and was also a 10-year volunteer in the American Legion Honor Guard.  Elton was a 25-year member of the Good Sam Club with the Casper Whirlwinds of Casper, WY and the Hub City Sams of Aberdeen, traveling to Yuma, Arizona, Alabama, Florida and Texas and enjoying the adventures and friendships made during that time.  In addition, Elton was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Legion.

Elton was an avid hunter of elk, antelope, deer, moose, and pheasant and also enjoyed fishing.  He was able to continue these sports until he was 82 years old.

Elton will be lovingly remembered as a devout Catholic, devoted husband of 57 years, wonderful father, loyal brother and friend, consummate soldier and employee, and a lifetime member of “The Greatest Generation”.  We commend his spirit to Jesus Christ and are comforted in the knowledge that he is with Mom in heaven.  May he rest in peace.

Blessed to have shared in Elton’s life are his children:  Mary (Garry) Mentzer of Colorado Springs, CO, Melanie (Bruce) Krug of Gillette, WY, Melinda (Joe) Welch of Casper, WY, and Monica (Greg) Carlson of Gillette, WY; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three siblings:  Dorothy Dobberpuhl of Sioux Falls, SD, Barney Herman of Aberdeen, and Fred (Dorothy) Herman of Leola, SD.

Elton is preceded in death by his wife, Rita; parents, Fred and Mary; and six siblings:  Agatha Coffey, Edward Herman, Caroline Reinken, Tom Herman, LaVern Herman and LaVera Job.