Herbert C. Lang

Jul 20, 2025 Herb Lang passed away July 20, 2025, at Alaska Regional Hospital after a brief illness at the age of 95. He will be missed! Herb was a committed husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, philanthropist, mentor, civic leader, businessman, outdoor enthusiast, world traveler, and an Alaska resident for almost 80 years.

Herb was born October 24, 1929, in Jersey City, New Jersey, orphaned at ten years old, and raised by extended family. Having dreamed of moving far away from New Jersey, at age seventeen, Herb chose to attend the University of Alaska in 1947. Traveling by Greyhound bus from New Jersey to Seattle and then to Seward via Alaska Steamship, he eventually arrived in Fairbanks. Herb graduated from the University of Alaska in 1951 with a degree in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. A highlight he often spoke of from his time at the University of Alaska was working on a reindeer farm in Sweden as an exchange student. This experience was cut short when he had to report to Fort Benning, Georgia as a Second Lieutenant during the Korean War. During his time with the Army, he earned his pilot's license and later flew with the Palmer Flying Club.

After his service in the Army and his return from Korea, he attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania on the GI Bill. He met several lifelong friends at Wharton whom he would travel and do business with. After graduating in 1955, Herb headed back to Alaska to work in Palmer at the Territorial Department of Agriculture doing farm loans.

He met his first wife, Janet Lee Lamont through mutual friends in Fairbanks and they were married in 1957. The following year they moved to Anchorage where Herb worked with the Territorial Land Office. Herb then trained to become a real estate appraiser and opened his own office in downtown Anchorage just days before the 1964 earthquake. The earthquake changed Alaska and his business plans. Soon thereafter Herb formed a partnership to purchase Anchorage Sand & Gravel (AS&G) in 1965.

Over the next several decades, Herb and his business partners grew AS&G from a small family concrete and block company located on 1st Avenue in downtown Anchorage to the large operation it is today. When MDU Resources purchased the company in 1992, it had grown to include concrete ready-mix, cement, precast, rebar, soil recycling, and asphalt plants, as well as, a railroad gravel operation that brought in material from Palmer.

In addition to his career at AS&G, Herb served on the Anchorage School Board, Anchorage Borough Assembly, Planning and Zoning Commission, Anchorage Port Commission, City of Anchorage Arbitration Board, and the Board of Regents for the University of Alaska. Herb also served on the boards of Alaska Pacific Bank (now Key Bank), Humana Alaska Hospital (now Alaska Regional Hospital), and the YMCA. In 1991, Herb was humbled to receive the Associated General Contractor's Hardhat Award. Throughout his life, Herb sustained an enthusiasm to learn, read, explore, and volunteer, all with his wit and dry sense of humor.

Herb was an avid hiker and explored all over Alaska and hunted for Dall Sheep every fall. He married Marianne Pfeil in 1994 and together they lived on Campbell Lake and enjoyed boating to her cabin in Little Jakolof Bay. They toured the world together, exploring every continent and most countries, small and large. Some of their memorable adventures included exploring Africa, Antarctica, Nepal, Peru, and Russia.

He is survived by his wife, Marianne Pfeil Lang; son, Michael H. Lang; daughter, Cheri Lang Marston (Erin), all from Anchorage, Alaska. Herb is also survived by his grandson, Kyle Marston; granddaughter Brooke Ann Marston (Joshua Berg); Katelyn Lovs-Ciesynski (Jake); Kelly Lovs Bucher (Manuel); and two great grandchildren. His daughter, Deborah Lang Lovs (2023), first wife, Janet Lee Lang (1990), and his brother, Harry Lang (1987), predeceased him.

Our family is grateful for the community and care Herb received as a resident since 2024 at Baxter Senior Living.

In accordance with Herb's wishes, no church or funeral service will be held. Arrangements were handled by Cremation Society of Alaska.

A celebration of life will be held Wednesday August 20, 2025, from 4-7 pm at the Petroleum Club at 3301 C Street, Anchorage, Alaska. All who knew Herb are welcome to join his family and share stories.