Herschel L. Hendrickson

September 26, 1929 – October 18, 2012

Herschel Lee Hendrickson passed away at the age of 83 on October 18, 2012, at La Villa Grande in Grand Junction, Colorado. Herschel was a lifetime resident of the Western slope with most of his years spent as a rancher in the Unaweep Canyon and near Uravan. He was married to Martha Belle Craig for 36 years before her passing in 1987, and then married Fae Lough, but was later divorced.

Herschel was a 4-H leader, Mesa County Fair board member, Mesa County Soil Conservation District board member, and he initiated the annual Fair BBQ. He exhibited Charolias and Herford Cattle across the Western US and showed a National Champion Charolias Heifer at Caldwell, ID. He was one of the first AI Technicians in Western Colorado.

Herschel is preceded in death by his son, Herschel Matt Hendrickson. He is survived by his three daughters of Grand Junction, Cindy Smiles, Jannie (Howard) VanWinkle, and Callie Hendrickson; his sisters, Carrie Lou Gremel of Emery, UT, and Phyllis Hofferber of Grand Junction, CO; one daughter-in-law, Eileen Hendrickson of Unaweep Canyon; six grandchildren, JJ Sutton, Nathan Sutton, Nadine Hatch, Rose McCarver, Nelly Lynn, and Dean VanWinkle, and ten great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Martin Mortuary on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., with graveside services at Orchard Mesa Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mesa County 4-H foundation at P.O. Box 4828, Grand Junction CO 81502.