JOSEPH W. "JOE" HERDA JR.

Joseph (Joe) W. Herda Jr., 70, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving wife and children on March 4, 2013 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Funeral Services for Joe will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Reuben Schnaidt officiating. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 3:00 until 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Joe will be laid to rest in the Crary Cemetery. Joe was born September 30, 1942 in Devils Lake to Joseph and Mildred Foss Herda. He moved with his family to the family farm at Crary, North Dakota in 1943 and attended Crary Public School. Joseph was baptized at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake in 1943, was confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Crary and was now an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Beulah, ND. On December 7, 1963 he married Diane Allard at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. Joe and Diane made their home on his Grandfather’s farm at Crary where he farmed with his father. During the winter months Joe hauled grain for Northwest Salvage. In 1979 Joe purchased his own truck and trailer and trucked all over the US. After totaling his truck in 1982, Joe went to work for his brother-in-law, Gary Allard with West River Builders in Beulah, ND. In January 1983, the family moved to Beulah where he enjoyed working with his three brothers-in-law in the constructing of new homes. The “open road” again called him and in 1985 he started hauling mail to Billings and Minneapolis and eventually from Bismarck to Fargo for Beco, Inc. of New Salem, ND. In 1998 Joe and Diane moved to Mandan where Joe continued working for Beco, Inc. Due to his illness, Joe retired in June 2008. Even with the challenges his illness brought, Joe cared for his family and wanting to make sure his wife was able to have her own place and in November 2012, they moved to a town home in Bismarck. Joe was a devoted family man who enjoyed the many Allard family get-togethers. He especially enjoyed teasing his many nieces and nephews. Joe was greatly loved by his grandchildren, Devin, Casey and Michael (Mikey). Grandpa lovingly harassed and was harassed by his grandchildren. Joe loved playing practical jokes on his family whenever he could get away with it. Joe loved the outdoors and spent many hours salmon fishing on Lake Sakakawea. He took pride in his boat and spent much time polishing it until it sparkled. Joe loved his fishing trips to Lake Michigan with his fishing buddies Duane and Barb Ash. Joe enjoyed traveling to Florida and spending time there with his daughter. His dream was to retire there and fish every day in the Gulf. Joe will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 49 years, Diane and his children Tracy Herda, Cheyenne, WY., Kim Herda Rhodes, St. Petersburg, FL., Michael (Lisa) Herda, Cheyenne, WY., three grandchildren Devin and Michael Herda, Casey Stadick all of Cheyenne, WY. Joe leaves a sister, Jolene Boyles, Galveston, IN, a brother Edward, (Mary) Herda, Grand Forks, brothers-in-law Gary (Chere) Allard, Kevin (Mary) Allard, Mark (Gayle) Allard and sisters-in-law Connie Magilke, Debbie (Ken) Quam and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his father Joseph Herda, Sr., mother Mildred (Foss) Herda, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Edward and Harriet (Anderson) Allard, his brothers-in-law Gary Boyles and Bernie Magilke. Casket Bearers: Art Rohr, Duaine Ash, Alvin Herda, Dennis Aardahl, Terry Aronson, and Gordy Cavalier. Honorary Pallbearers: Gary Allard, Kevin Allard, Mark Allard and Ken Quam. Beco Mail Drivers. Music will be provided by Peter A. Hager, soloist and Jean Aardahl, pianist.