Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Bill "Herby" Herbolich

Bill "Herby" Herbolich, 76, died Thursday July 19th after a minor surgery in Missoula, Montana. He was born in Anaconda Montana on October 26, 1942 to Bill & Margaret (Hamill) Herbolich. He graduated from Anaconda High School and Western Montana College in Dillon. He married his high school sweetheart Donna Smollack on July 8, 1967 in Anaconda and they recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. No summer was complete for Bill and Donna without an annual excursion to Nevada in hopes of winning the jackpot. Little did they know, the jackpot was already won when they tied the knot. They moved to Whitehall, Montana so he could start his teaching career. It was only going to be for one year, but instead he ended up teaching junior high and high school math for 41 years at Whitehall High School. During his time in Whitehall, he was an assistant basketball coach, basketball, football, volleyball referee, booster club member, track starter, and football timer. His refereeing career spanned 35 years in total for the Montana High School association and was a certified MOA official. He was the State Vice President of the MEA-MFT for 6 years and the President of the local teachers union in Whitehall. After retirement he worked as a potato inspector for the state of Montana. He served in the Army Reserve for 6 years at the beginning of his teaching career.

He loved attending Montana Grizzly football games with his son Bill. They made many trips throughout the nation watching the Grizzlies. They've attended National Championship games and almost every game since they became season ticket holders in 1998. His pride grew when his grandsons Tate and Riley started attending the games with him. His son shocked him when he married Heidi, a diehard Bobcat fan. They would give each other hell about who won the game that year, although the Grizzlies did most of the winning. He will miss going to the Grizzly games and watching Max Feight in his first season playing for the Grizzlies.

Other than attending Grizzly football games, his other favorite pastime was fishing.

He leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Donna (Smollack) Herbolich, daughter Charlene (Rob) Sayler and their children Ryan and Brynn, son Bill (Heidi) Herbolich and their children Tate and Riley, brother Bob (Donna) Herbolich and children, sister Carol (Ron) Felton and their children Brett (Andrea) and Ty (Alicia), brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ben and Dorothy Friez, nephew Chuck (Connie) Friez and daughter Shanina, sister-in-law Mary Morley and her children Rob (Summer) Smollack and John (Erika) Smollack and their children, brother-in-law Bill Converse and daughter Michelle (Kevin) Buffington and their children. He also leaves behind extended family members, numerous friends, and former students.

He was preceded in death by his parents Bill & Margaret Herbolich, brother-in-law Don "Dunk" Smollack, grandson Trevor Sayler, nephews Benny Friez and DJ Smollack, mother and father-in-law Katherine and Charles Smollack, sister-in-law Charlotte Converse.

Services will be held on July 31st at 10 a.m. at St Teresa Avila Parish in Whitehall, Montana with Father Elias Kabuk officiating and a reception to follow. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery in Butte at 2 p.m.

A Bill "Herby" Herbolich Memorial Fund is set up at the Rocky Mountain Bank. These funds will go to the WHS Athletic Programs. Memorials can also be made to the Jefferson Valley Museum or donor's choice.

 

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