Herbert Maier

Herbert Maier, 94, of Missoula, passed away on Monday, March 6, 2017, at St. Patrick Hospital, of natural causes.
He was born Feb. 14, 1923, in Eureka, S.D. to Frederick and Katharina Maier.
While he was young, the family moved first to Plevna, Mont., in 1926, then to Pablo and Polson to farm. They finally arrived at the Big Flats in 1942. For a short time, Herbert worked at the Jack Waite mine in Idaho, then returned to Missoula where he worked the family farm until he enlisted in the U. S. Army in July 1944.
During his basic training, he was given the military occupation of Light Machine Gunner, and assigned to the 7th Infantry Division. He eventually joined the division on April 13, 1945, during the Okinawa campaign. After the war was over, he was sent to Korea to as part of the occupation forces. He was discharged from the Army in July 1946.
For a time he worked in silver mines in the Wallace, Idaho, area until he married Kathleen Dutton on Dec. 27, 1947. From then until 1952, he worked at the White Pine and Sash lumber mill. From 1952 until 1980 he built houses in the Missoula area. Following this, he became a handyman doing many various jobs around town.
He enjoyed fishing, golf and bowling as long as his health allowed, as well as traveling to see his children.
He was preceded in death by a son, Dennis, and his wife, Kathleen. He was also preceded in death by his sisters Eva, Rosie and Ella.
Survivors include two daughters and their families, Marlene Koski (Ben) and Donna (Hugh) Peterson, and two sons, Neil Maier (Becky), and his family, and Roger Maier, along with five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brother Art and sisters Pauline and Lillian.
The family would like to say a special thanks to Dad’s friend Si for helping him remain in his home up until his stroke.
A memorial service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens on Friday, March 10, at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow the service.