David Herries

David John Herries entered the great mystery on June 8, 2025, at home in Missoula, with his beloved wife holding his hand and his family by his side. Born in Big Timber, Montana on June 28, 1932, he was a proud graduate of Sweetgrass County High School (Go Sheepherders!) and Montana State University (Go Bobcats!) where he earned three degrees. 

The son of Dr. John D. and Evelyn Rodwold Herries, David cherished the rich heritage of immigrant grandparents from Scotland and Norway. He was especially grateful to grow up with them nearby in Montana where their stories, traditions, and love of the outdoors were a living part of his childhood. 

The consummate educator, David devoted his life to teaching the sciences- primarily chemistry, physics, and geology- in California, Oregon, and Montana. His passion for education spanned decades, and he didn't fully retire until age 83. (“Tish made me quit!”) After years in the high school classroom, David served as Teacher Placement Director at Montana State University and later finished his career as a counselor and high school principal.

An early supporter of the Sierra Club, he instilled in his family a deep love for the outdoors- hunting, hiking, exploring, camping, and floating the rivers of Montana were treasured pastimes. A proud advocate for public lands, David was happiest outdoors and caring for a lifetime of numerous pets. He enjoyed creating lost wax cast jewelry and building canoes and kayaks. But his greatest passion was reading- often two or three books at once- a love instilled in him by his father.

Serving in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman at the end of Korea and the beginning of Vietnam, David decried the absurdity of war. He was instrumental in creating a Missoula Chapter of Veterans for Peace, which currently meets at the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center.

David and Patricia (Tish) Nichols met and married in California during the Summer of Love 1967. She survives him with daughter Stacey Herries (Matt Herman), their children Elias, Clara, and Sonia, and his great-grandson Larson Lee David Herman; son Scot (Deborah Lissfelt) and daughter Ella. As an only child, he counted as “siblings” cousins Elizabeth Herries and Russell Blixt.

The family appreciates beyond measure, the Hospice of Missoula and the Veterans Administration for TLC. Any donations may be made to the MSU Library Fund or the donor's choice.

“… it is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known “(Charles Dickens).

A Celebration of Life will be held at Frenchtown Pond State Park, East Loop Pavilion, on Saturday, June 28 at 11 am. Lunch will be served.