Obituary: Bernard Herber

(605) 859-2400 You can call us 24/7

Newsletter Get new obituaries by email

Search Search through the obituaries

Funeral Services

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM (Mountain).

Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
Kadoka, South Dakota

Visitation

Visitation will be held 5-7 with a rosary service at 7 p.m. Friday, October 24, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Kadoka.

Print Obituary

In memory of

Bernard Herber

of Kadoka, South Dakota, died on Monday, October 20, 2025 at his home south of Kadoka at the age of 87

Being “a fall calf of ‘37,” Bernard Herber of Kadoka didn’t make it to his 88th birthday when he passed away October 20, 2025, as he was heading to bed earlier than usual, before watching his Westerns, yet after winning his last game of cribbage and widow whist.

Bernard was born in Moscow, Idaho, to John and Margaret (Hoffman) Herber, November 10, 1937, joining one sister. By riding in a car hooked behind a truck with a stock rack, they returned south of Kadoka, where 3 more sisters soon joined the family. Bernard attended Weta School above the Solon Ranch 1st-8th grades. Three miles away, he raced home on foot to tell Ma his side of the story before his horseback sisters arrived.

At age 9, Bernard ran to the barn and hid when he saw his dad pass away while working cattle, leaving his mom with 5 kids to raise. A stepdad and a half-brother came next.

By walking 6 miles to the highway, then hitchhiking to Sturgis, Bernard attended grades 9-12 at St. Martin’s Academy, a Catholic boarding school, graduating in ‘55. With $5 to last Monica and him 2 weeks, he became a yardman–cleaned hedges, trimmed logs, set bowling pins, wrote news, and chauffeured nuns. He learned football when Sturgis asked him to play. He also played basketball, ran the mile, and broke the school’s shotput record, (but teammate threw further that day); he also played drums and Sousaphone. Most of his teachers were nuns, yet his science teacher/priest wanted him to become a priest; his sisters needed help instead, earning him “above and beyond a doctor’s degree” in “self-educated, learn-by-mistakes” agriculture, which he passed to his legacy.

This Friday, October 24th, marks 66 years of marriage for Bernard to his cheerleading, roller skating sweetheart Barbara (Stout). Seven kids brought them years of entertainment, and a hayrack full of grandkids and great-grandkids: Sunday afternoons with the neighbors playing softball down by the bridge led to 41 years of Weta River Rat softball–coaching “his girls and their girls” in many state tourneys. Occasionally, Mom and Dad coached all 7 kids in State Co-Ed Softball. He loved raising corn and alfalfa, cattle, and kids, playing cards, telling stories, meeting others, and supporting generations of sporting events; 6 of their kids played college sports.

Other interesting facts: Handmilked cows and took cream to the train, climbed poles to fix party lines ($3/hour), planted trees–fruit too; played piano, and drums occasionally, in the Eddie Kodet and His Kadett’s Belvidere band (15 years); House fire in ‘17, bladder cancer in ‘18 (1 kidney left), windrower fire in ‘22. Hard worker, huge hands, no waste.

Legacy left behind: wife, Barbara; kids Janelle (Blake) Hicks, Kathy Brown/Roy; John (Lynn), Joanne (Bill) Sarringar, Jim (Dawn), Coleen (David) Letellier, and Matt (Tracy); 37 grandkids; 47 great-grandkids; and a host of other relatives and friends.

May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace: his parents; his siblings Monica (Pat) Weaver, Joanne (Jim) Merkle, Theresa (Rodney) Hockenbary, Phylliss Grubl, Tony Harty; son-in-law Larry Frink; in-laws Alice Stone and Dan and Tootie Stout; grandkids Misty Hamar, Chance Herber, and Will Letellier.

Visitation will be held 5-7 with a rosary service at 7 p.m. Friday, October 24, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Kadoka.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church with Father Johnathan Dillon as celebrant.

Interment will follow at the Kadoka Cemetery.

Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 47 Kadoka, SD 57543.

VISITATION
Friday, October 24, 2025 - 5-7 p.m.
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
Kadoka, South Dakota

ROSARY SERVICE
Friday, October 24, 2025 - 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
Kadoka, South Dakota

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - 1:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
Kadoka, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Johnathan Dillon

INTERMENT
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota

Sign the guestbook

With deepest condolences. Bernard will be greatly missed. Always enjoyed visiting with him when I worked at the vet clinic. Prayers to all ~ Marcia Haukaas Pierre (10/28/2025)
I really enjoyed Bernard every single time we got to visit. Love to the whole Herber family!! ~ Jody Gittings Onida, South Dakota (10/26/2025)
Barbara and family, our thoughts and prayers have been with you during these difficult days. Your family and the community tearfully say goodbye to a very special and colorful character that everyone will miss. ~ Justin and Joyce Wheeler Philip, SD (10/24/2025)
Herber family, I am thinking of your whole family! The death of a parent is very hard even if we know its going to happen. For your dad, he is in a better place, it is the whole they leave in the family that we mourn!
To God be the glory
Love Joelle ~ Joelle Johnson Forbes ND (10/24/2025)
Barb and family... I am so sorry for your loss. Bernard was a friendly, welcoming, cribbage playing good ol' fella. Peace and prayers ~ Christy Harry Philip (10/24/2025)
Bernard was quite a guy, always took time to say hi to everyone, even when he was coming in to church. He will be missed by many, Hold onto the memories. ~ Les & Joann Pearson Philip, SD (10/23/2025)
So sorry to hear of Bernard's passing. He was a tough Ol guy for sure, but he was always encouraging anyone to do better no matter what they were doing. He will truly be missed. ~ Ellie Bettelyoun MARTIN (10/23/2025)
Barb and family, I am so sorry for your loss. I first met Bernard in the summer of 1971. I was a skinny 16 year old kid working for Dick and Mike Borbely. When we shook hands mine disappeared. What an impression. When ever Bernard and Barb saw me they had to say Hi and ask a question or two. Years of softball games and sporting events. A personality larger than life. So glad I knew Bernard for 54 years. God bless all of you. Craig Weber ~ Craig Weber Philip (10/23/2025)
So sorry to hear of Bernard's passing. He was an incredible man, smart, strong and tough yet also very warm and kind. He will be deeply missed. Love, Colleen, Ken and family ~ Colleen O'Callaghan Fleek Omaha NE (10/23/2025)
Bernard will be missed so much. Love how his obituary is written. He has been through so much. ~ Linda Harvey Interior, SD (10/22/2025)
My friend for many years. Always enjoyed our conversations. I know he will be missed by all especially his family. ~ Robert E Chambers Owatonna (10/22/2025)
My condolences to all the family, I remember Bernard fondly from our years in South Dakota. He was a special man, God's blessings on all of you. ~ Diana Elwood Montana (10/22/2025)
Aunt Barbra and Family, Uncle Bernard was one of the kind. He was lucky to live his life out on the place he loved. Doing everything that he loved from feeding the cattle to taking care of the chickens. He will dearly be missed by everyone. Uncle Bernard always had stories to tell. Take care and God Bless you! ~ Casey and Cindy Weaver Wall SD (10/22/2025)
It goes without saying that Bernard was one of a kind. A very special man. I remember when he was courti g our teacher, Barb. They were so good together. God bless his family with special memories. ~ Lyndy Ireland Philip (10/22/2025)
Grandfather and great-grandfather to my kiddos. Love to Bernard and family. ~ Jackie (Herber) Webb Keystone, SD (10/22/2025)
So sorry for your loss Bernard was a pillar in Jackson County and the surrounding area . He will be misswd by many people he knew every person he met inlife enjoy his visits . May God and the Angels put their arms around all of his Family ~ Bonnie Madsen Kadoka S D (10/21/2025)