Dale “Sonny” John Herding age 71 of Westbrook passed away Sunday, December 1, 2013 at Westbrook Good Samaritan after a year-long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 5 at the Westbrook Funeral Home. Visitation is 5:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Westbrook Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to services on Thursday. Interment is in the Highland Home Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dale “Sonny” John Herding was born February 16, 1942 in Slayton, MN to William and Bena (Aeilts) Herding. He was baptized and confirmed at Hadley Lutheran Church. Sonny attended country school near Hadley and later attended school in Slayton. He entered the US Army and served in Vietnam. He received his honorable discharge in 1969. Following his military service, Sonny worked in the Twin Cities for two years. He then farmed with his brother for a few years. In his earlier years, he enjoyed horses. Sonny loved spending time in his Peterbilt trucks hauling cattle out west, to and from Montana. Truck stops were his home away from home. Sonny was a member of the Storden Legion, and collected John Deere tractors which he enjoyed rebuilding and restoring. He loved buying used pickup trucks and souping them up with loud pipes and big tires. Sonny loved the Vikings and Twins, and reading western books, especially those by Louis L’Amour.
Sonny is survived by his siblings: Joyce (Richard) Johnson of Hadley, Marlys Hrmatko of Worthington, Joan (Phil) Peterson of Northfield, and Butch Herding of Hadley; and several nieces and nephews who were very special to him. He is preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Eugene, Dennis, and Curt.
Dale will be missed. He was as his picture always smiling. I along with all classmates will miss him. We did many things together and if you need help or a friend he was always there. He never let on to others about his health so that adds to the shock.
May God bless his family!
Byron and Clarissa Kasa
I always enjoyed visiting with about John Deere tractors. He was a friend of my Dad also. I’ll miss visiting with him.
My condolences to his family.
Brian
This is such a great picture of Dale, it really captures his personality, he was always smiling!
My deepest Sympathy to all of Dale’s family, he will be missed by many, including his classmates from Slayton high.
Val Beattie Brown
I made many of those trips to Montana myself and always enjoyed seeing visiting with Dale when met him on road. Remember him going to Montana to get two John Deere tractors I was out there too. He was a good man and good friend.
My sympathy to all his family and friends.
Wayne Jones, Adrian, MN
Although I had not seen Dale since the 100 year anniversary in Dovray in 2004, I remember the good times all of us guys from Storden had together in the 70’s and early 80’s. Dale was always joking and laughing, and always had a big grin on his face. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.
My sincere sympathy to Dale’s family.
Bob Steinhoff