Herbert "Herb" Stelling

Herbert “Herb” Stelling, 94, of Superior passed away Monday, September 18, 2023 at his home in Superior, Montana surrounded by loved ones.  A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula. 

Herb, son of George and Hermina (Hein) Stelling, was born July 7, 1929, in Missoula, Montana.  Born during the Great Depression, Herb grew up with his five brothers, Dave, Bernie, Bill, Art, and John, in the family home on Woodford Street. He attended schools in the Missoula area and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1947.  After high school he worked for the Bureau of Public Roads throughout Montana. In 1950, Herb met the love of his life, Beverly Jensen, in Missoula, and the couple were married on June 10, 1951.   In 1952 their first son, Dave, was born in Missoula.

Herb attended the University of Montana, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy in 1955.  During college he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, he also delivered newspapers for the Missoulian and worked as a pharmacist’s intern at Stoick Drug.  After graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He went through Officers Training in Fort Benning, Georgia and trained troops at Fort Lewis, Washington.  Their second son, Mitch, was born in 1956 in Missoula. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army in 1957 as a First Lieutenant, Herb worked as a pharmacist at Peterson Drug in Missoula. In 1959, the family moved to Eureka, California where Herb worked for Eli Lilly Company as a sales representative.  In 1960, the family moved back to Montana and settled in Superior, where Herb had an opportunity for ownership in a drugstore.  They purchased the Mineral Pharmacy and ultimately built a new drug store in 1967.  Their third son, Grant, was born in Superior in 1962, and their daughter, Kristin, was born in Missoula in 1969.  Herb and Bev worked together in the Pharmacy for 30 years. 

He was a member of the Lions Club and the Superior Town Council.  He was instrumental in the planning and development of the town’s new sewer system and the new Mineral County Hospital, which was built in the early 1970’s.  A man with an amazing work ethic, Herb built his own home, a drug store, a drive-in burger restaurant, and a convenience food store.  He also had various business ventures in Missoula and Superior.

He shared his love of the Montana outdoors with his children, nieces, and nephews by taking them on backpack trips around western Montana.  He enjoyed hiking, fishing and camping in his free time.  He and Bev loved to go cross country skiing with friends and family, and he enjoyed gardening in the summer.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 72 years, Beverly Stelling of Superior; children, David (Kathy) Stelling of Helena; Mitch (Mary) Stelling of Great Falls; Grant (Lucy) Stelling of Great Falls; Kristin (Rick) Taylor of Missoula; ten grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.  Herb was a devoted family man who will be greatly missed.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, George and Hermina Stelling, and brothers, David Stelling, Bernard Stelling, William Stelling, Arthur Stelling, and John Stelling. 

Online condolences may be posted at gardencityfh.com.  In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Mineral County Library, Superior, Montana, or to a charity of choice.