Merle LeRoy Herbig

Merle LeRoy Herbig passed away Sunday, June 16th at the age of 86. He was born September 6, 1915, in Gardena, North Dakota, where his father was the pastor of a Methodist Church. Merle's family moved many times, due to his father's occupation, a minister serving mostly small churches in North Dakota. He grew up in North Dakota and in Arkansas and later in Spearfish, SD, where he worked in a nearby gold mine.

Merle met Ruth Pummel in Spearfish, where she attended college. He later went to Fort Lawton, in Seattle, and enlisted in the US Army in June 1939. He was sent several places, including the Presidio in California. He arrived at Camp Davis, North Carolina, in 1940. There he attained the rank of Staff Sgt. He was attached to the 96th Coast Artillery Anti Aircraft Battalion.

Merle and Ruth were married on June 29, 1941, in Conway, South Carolina. He spent the initial war years in Hawaii. In the spring of 1943, he was sent from Hawaii to the Signal Corps Officer Candidate School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. On the way, he picked up Ruth and baby daughter, Sandra Lee. Merle received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant on June 10, 1943. From Camp Claiborne, he was sent overseas, again to Hawaii. Merle was assigned Port Officer and he was sent ahead of the troops to Seattle, WA. Their second daughter, Marla Ruth, was born in Deadwood, SD. After the war was over, they lived at Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu. Merle was assigned to the 379th Engineer Battalion. By this time, Merle had reached the rank of Captain. His next assignment was at Tooele Ordinance Depot in Utah, where their first son, Ronald Frederick, was born. In March 1948, Merle left the US Army, and later joined the Army Reserve.

The family moved to Pasco, WA in 1952 where he worked for the Corp of Engineers on the Ice Harbor Dam project relocation. He had been a member of the Army Reserve unit, but was now employed as a full-time Civil Service employee working for the Army Reserve. Their younger sons, Alan and Bruce were born in the Tri-Cities. In the summer of 1964, Ruth and Merle moved to Seattle, WA. Merle was promoted to a new position at Fort Lawton with the Army Reserve, where he served until he retired in 1975 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Merle greatly enjoyed family gatherings, playing cards with the grand children and reading stories to them on his lap. He loved the outdoors, developing the property they owned near Creston, above Lake Roosevelt. He enjoyed getting out in the fields with his hunting partners, son Ron and son-in-law, Jerry. Many good times were had around the campfires. Merle instilled a spark of ?I can do that? and ?how does that work? in his children that has served them well in their home projects they?ve undertaken through the years.

Merle is preceded in death by his father, Rev. William Herbig, mother Maude Herbig, brothers Vern, Ade, Philip, sister Leola and infant daughter, Linda Marie. He is survived by Ruth Herbig, his wife of 60+ years, his sister, Naomi Eide, of Salem, OR; his children, Sandra Gerald Tinker of Kennewick, WA, Marla Herbig of Seattle, WA, Ronald Christie Herbig of Beaverton, OR; Alan Debra Warren Herbig of Seattle, Bruce Ann Herbig of Brier, WA. He was greatly fond of and loved by his grandchildren, Michael Tinker, Edward Terry Pope Tinker, Cheri Rodney Fleck, Scott Tinker; Kate Devin Andres, Marie Herbig, Paul Herbig; Nigel Tiffany Herbig, Ashlee Warren; Alex, Jonathan and Kelly Herbig; great grandchildren, Stephanie Cameron Robinson, Jennifer Tinker; Jeremy Tinker; Anastasia, Emma-Grayce and William Fleck, and great great granddaughter, Taylar Tinker.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 29th at 1:00 p.m. at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church at Greenwood Ave N and N. 70th St. A graveside inurnment will take place with full military honors at Evergreen-Washelli at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Herbig requests contributions are made to the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society.