Herb White

1934 - 2025

Herb White, 91, passed quietly from this earth and into the welcoming presence of Jesus Christ on October 21, 2025.

Herb's story began on January 9, 1934, in Atlanta, GA, born to Herbert Walter White Sr. and Velma Bradbury.

His father's work with the Heinz Corporation took the family from state to state and by the time Herb finished school in California, he had already called five places home.

He began his college studies at San Francisco just as the Korean War was ending. With the draft still in effect, Herb chose to enlist on October 3, 1953. He graduated from the U.S. Army Finance Center at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, IN, and served in Hanford, WA, before being reassigned to the 7th Division Finance Office in Korea.

While stationed in Korea, Herb befriended Roy McGlynn of Butte, MT and became captivated by Roy's tales of his Montana boyhood. Inspired, Herb resolved to make Montana his own home. Upon discharge on October 3, 1956, he sent his freshman transcripts to the University of Montana in Missoula – having never even heard of the place before.

While waiting to begin college, Herb lived with his father in Holland, Michigan, where he met his first wife and future mother of his four children, Ruth Gladden. They married on December 29, 1956.

Afterward, Herb attended the UM, graduating in 1959 with a B.S. in Social Studies and Physical Education, and played first base on the Grizzlies baseball team. He moved to Flathead Valley, where he put his lifelong love of words and learning to be used as an educator. Herb taught in Somers, Kalispell Middle School, and Flathead Jr. High. He later served as Administrator of the LASER Alternative School and finished his career as the Audio-Visual Director at Flathead High School. Herb continued his baseball love playing first base for many years on the Men's Softball League Sliter's team and following the Atlanta Braves.

Though he retired in 1988, Herb never retired from teaching – or talking. He was delightfully verbose, with a love of the English language that was both scholarly and mischievous. He could turn a phrase like a poet one moment and then, with a twinkle in his eye slip into playful Southern jargon the next – "just to keep folks on their toes," as he'd say. He loved to make people laugh, to think, and to listen just a little longer than they'd planned.

Music was another of Herb's great joys. A jazz lover, alto saxophonist, and accomplished string bassist, he was one of the nine musicians who formed Kalispell's first big band in the early 1960's. He also served as President of the Kalispell Musicians Union from 1967 to 1975.

In the 1960's, Herb purchased 40 acres with only 15 dollars down. With a Montgomery Ward "How To" booklet, the help of Sliters Lumber Yard, and many good friends – built his own house overlooking Flathead Lake and the Swan Range. Herb, Ruth, and son Dan lived on-site in an Army surplus tent, using an outhouse that Herb built during the first summer of construction, and they were able to move into the enclosed ground floor prior to winter arriving. Completion of the 2-story home took Herb 7 years to complete working evenings and summer vacations. Herb and Ruth raised their four children in a home that echoed with music and the steady rhythm of discipline and purpose. Herb's standards were high and though love often showed itself through structure rather than softness, his heart was devoted to his family. In later years, he spoke openly of wishing he had better expressed the love and pride he always carried for each of his children.

From 1968 to 1970 Herb served as Assistant Manager at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, where summers with his family were spent enjoying boat excursions and swimming.

Every four years, Herb would load up the car and take his family on cross-country road trips to visit loved ones in Pittsburgh PA, Holland MI, Henderson NC, Atlanta, GA, and Philadelphia, PA. He and Ruth also opened their home to children in need, serving as foster parents through the Kalispell Lutheran Adoption Agency for six years and ultimately adopting their daughter, Debi.

On June 26, 1977, Herb lost Ruth to cancer.

Two years later, in 1979, Herb met Rita Eayrs Reis, herself twice a widow – on a blind date, which he arranged. They married on June 29,1979. Together Herb and Rita shared forty-six years of love, resilience and partnership. Life brought them deep sorrows, including the loss of three of Herb's children, and later a medical error that left Herb's health compromised. Yet even in hardship, Herb's spirit remained unbroken.

Herb and Rita established and operated the Debi White Memorial Scholarship fund for gifted and motivated students in honor of their lost daughter and participated in the Compassionate Friends support group helping other parents of deceased children cope with their losses.

Herb refused to be defined by grief. He sought out joy, adventure, conversation, and connection – always looking for what he fondly called "the upside." His faith in Jesus Christ was the steady compass of his life, his anchor, and his joy.

Herb was a valiant soul, a man of courageous faith, a devoted husband, and a proud father and grandfather. His presence filled every room; his words filled every silence. He had a gift for making people believe in their worth, often expressing how proud he was of those he loved.

Bask in the presence of the Lord, Herb, and make sure to let Jesus do some of the talking.

You will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

Herb was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Gladden; daughter Debi White; and sons, Duane White and Doug White.

He is survived by his wife, Rita White; son Dan White, stepdaughter, Gayle Hubbard; stepson, Michael Eayrs (Cindy); stepson, Steve Eayrs (Kim); and stepdaughter, Cheryl Olstad (Roy), along with his beloved 14 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren.

Services to honor Herb's memory will be held at 11:00 am on November 15, 2025, at Adventure Church 348 2nd Ave West, Kalispell, MT 5990