Donald Jay Herington, 76, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, at the Horizon Hospice Home in Billings Heights.
A celebration of his life with military honors will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at Cremation or Funeral Gallery. Don was born July 15, 1931, in Columbus to Isaac E. Herington and Blanche Scott Herington. He attended schools in Columbus where he graduated high school in 1949. During his school years, he worked with his father in dray line business and also at a local grocery store. At the outbreak of the Korean Conflict, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Nov. 7, 1950, serving on a carrier, USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE86) and then on the transport, USS General Randall (AP115) until his honorable discharge on Aug. 18, 1954, with the rate of Machinists Mate 1st Class. On Sep. 16, 1954, he was hired by Mountain Bell. He worked on a construction department line crew in eastern Montana until July 1955, then he was transferred to the plant department in Billings. He worked in the central office and the outside plant work. Don was later transferred to the engineering department where he worked until his retirement on May 1, 1985. While working for Mountain Bell, he met Nancy Bennetts. They were married on April 26, 1958. His free time was spent on one of his loves the building and flying of remote control model airplanes. This love began in his grade school days with 10 cent rubber band models and continued the rest of his life. Don was a long time member of the Billings Flying Mustangs and the American Modeler Association. He also belonged to flying clubs in Clyde Park, Helena, Powell and Sheridan, Wyo., and in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was a member of the American Legion. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Patricia Rickman; daughter, Laura; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Don is survived by his wife of 49 years, Nancy; son, Patrick (Nancy) James; daughter, Julie Anne (Donald) Groven; and five grandchildren. Memorial donations can be made to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
