Herbert J. "Herb" Offermann

Herbert J. Offermann was born Jan. 25, 1939, in Sheldon, N.D. He passed away on Oct. 18, 2014, at his home. A service will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014 at Coffelts Funeral Home at 11 a.m. His parents were Pierre and Josephine Offermann, who immigrated to the Dakotas from Luxemburg with their family. Herb was the youngest of seven of children. His brothers and sisters were Jake, Mary, Heybjal, Robert, Alphonse and Adell.Herb enlisted in the National Guard and attended boot camp after school. Herb enjoyed drag racing, too. On May 25, 1959, he married Jeanette Luella Klain in Rockford, N.D. They moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, after the wedding to start their family. Herb began working for the newspaper in Bonners Ferry until he moved to Sandpoint to work at the Sandpoint News-Bulletin, which then became the Bonner County Daily Bee. Herb started as a pressman, and then his duties evolved into selling advertising, and layout, finally retiring in 1997 as the advertising director. In 1965, Herb and Jean moved to their current home on Shingle Mill Road, where they built a horse ranch. They raised and showed Quarter Horses and Paints for many years throughout the Northwest. One trip, Herb took was when he hauled eight horses for a friend to Texas in the middle of the winter. On the return trip he bought Jean a Paint stallion named “Cowboy Bar “from Oklahoma, returning in a snow storm with the new horse. Herb enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing for many years with his friends. Herb also competed in archery competitions with Jean in the early 1960s. Together, they won many awards. He also could be heard playing a guitar and riding motorcycles.When the girls were showing horses, Herb never missed a show. He drove the truck and trailer after working all day at the newspaper to horse shows as far away as Bozeman, Mont., to arrive in the middle of the night and get up in the morning to show. If he wasn't in the stands watching and cheering the girls on, he was helping groom and provide support. Some years he even got into the arena to show and win a few trophies of his own. Herb could also be seen as the announcer for the horse shows. He was part of the group that established the rodeo arena at the fairgrounds and brought the first PRCA rodeos to Sandpoint. Herb was active with Bonner County Farm Bureau. He served as county president for two terms and a regional director for the state. He and Jean also hosted the tractor driving competitions at the fair. Upon retiring from the newspaper, Herb kept busy on the ranch often commenting he couldn’t believe he had ever had time for work.Herb is survived by his wife, Jean of 54 years; a daughter, Pam and Rick Gurley of Hamilton, Mont.; a son, Ondomo Offermann of Sandpoint; and a daughter, Wendy and Steve Klappenbach of Sandpoint, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Bonner County Horse 4-H.