Norman W. Herdrich

Norman W. Herdrich, 71, died on March 18 from a pulmonary embolism. Norm had recently undergone two spinal surgeries, and Norm’s body and mind did not tolerate the procedures well.

Norman W. Herdrich was born July 17, 1942, at Sacred Heart Hospital to Fred Herdrich and Florice Birchill Herdrich. His parents farmed in the Colville area, but soon moved to Wilbur to farm. It was there that Norm attended grade, junior, and senior high school.

After graduation, Norm joined the Navy as a Seabee. He was always proud of his service to his country. He served on Okinawa in the Pacific during the early part of the Vietnam War, but his battalion was sent back to California to work on construction projects there.

He served in the Reserves for a number of years. He traded places in and out of WSC/WSU and the Lincoln Saw Hill. At the sawmill he worked the green chain, close to the equipment. In those days no one wore ear protection, and he paid for that with about half his hearing.

When he finally settled into WSU, he decided to major in Agricultural Journalism, which, in fact, did not exist. He was the first student to put together this degree and graduate with it. He was always proud of that. After receiving his B.S. in Ag Journalism, Norm strolled the streets of Spokane looking for a job. The best available work was at Cowles Publishing.

In the late 1960s, one could literally walk in from the street, interview, and get a job. That is just what he did. With great pride, he worked for Cowles Publishing in the Farm Magazine section until 1996 when they closed production. He had started as a reporter who traveled for stories and then literally cut and pasted galleys to be published. He could interview a person for hours, taking only miniscule notes, and write thousands of words of accurate copy back at the office.

At the end of his work at the Farmer-Stockman Magazines, Norm was Production Editor for eight or nine magazines a month, responsible for publishing at least one magazine every two to three days during a publishing run, all electronically. For several years Norm continued working as a writer/editor.

Then he decided he needed full-time work and joined Central Valley Schools as a custodian. He enjoyed the change of work, and staff and students could always count on work well done by “Mr. Herdrich.”

One thing Norm felt strongly about was that the actual job did not matter: doing a good job did. Norm enjoyed hiking, hunting, model building, gardening, wrestling with his Mastiffs or Bassett Hounds. He loved his roses and the birds that flocked to his feeders. He was an avid reader with an incredible memory. He spent many hours in heated Cribbage games with his father and brother.

Norm is survived by his wife of 39 years Mary Susan (Sue Webb) Herdrich; daughter Megan Marie Herdrich; Kristin Ruth Maureen (David) Ryan in Norfolk, VA; sisters Alison Herdrich and Karen (Peter) Barber; brother John (Susan) Herdrich; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, co-workers, and friends. The family wishes to thank the expertise and kind attentions of Dr. Timothy Powers and the surgical staff, the wonderful professionals in Deaconess ICU and the orthopedic wing at Deaconess Hospital, and all the caring people at Northwest Orthopedics.

The family suggests memorials may be sent to the James W. Webb Scholarship at Washington State University, Pullman; the Heidi Susan Herdrich Edmonston memorial fund at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ritzville; or the land grant extension office of their choice.

Services will be announced later with internment in Washington State Veterans Cemetery, Medical Lake. Danekas Funeral Home and Crematory-Ritzville is entrusted with arrangements.