Herbert “Herb” George Townsend
May 20, 1953 ~ March 11, 2026
Herbert “Herb” G. Townsend, 72, Brandon, SD, passed from this life on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, after dementia slowly stole away the pieces that he needed to be whole.
A Celebration of Life Open House will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon with a Memorial Service beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Herbert “Herb” George Townsend was born May 20, 1953, in Ekalaka, MT, to Robert and Ruth (Albert) Townsend. He was named after both of his grandfathers (Herbert Albert and George Townsend). The family lived in Glendive, MT, for a short time and then moved to Baker, MT, where his dad accepted the position of Chief of Police. Herb grew up with six of his siblings and many friends, graduating from Baker High School in 1971.
In his teen years, Herb played football, basketball, was in track events, and in Legion Baseball during summer months. Herb once held the school record for the longest kick returned for a touchdown (85 yards). He was proud to be a member of the 1970 Class B State Champion Basketball Team, “B” Club, Choir, National Honor Society, was a Boy’s State Delegate his junior year, and Student Council President his senior year. In the summer of 1971, Herb also toured Europe with a Great Falls choir group, after his cousin Debi encouraged him to try out. He had a wonderful singing voice.
Herb married Martha Rustad in September of 1974 and graduated from Eastern Montana College (now MSU-Billings) in the spring of 1975, where he was a “walk on” for Coach Harkins. He taught school and coached in Terry for four years and then in Laurel, where he later served as their Activities Director for many years and was honored as the MIAAA Class A Activities Director of the Year in 2002 and Overall Activities Director of the Year in 2003. (Herb was a strong proponent of all extra-curricular activities and believed that participation in them helped contribute to student success.) He had been a member of the Montana High School Association, served on their board, and was a past president. During his tenure in Laurel, a state-of-the-art football and track & field stadium was completed, and Laurel was then able to bid for state events. Herb was once referred to as “Mr. Tournament”. He was later inducted into the MIAAA Hall of Fame’s inaugural class of 2025.
This social guy and life-long Montanan retired from education in the spring of 2014 and a few short years later moved to eastern South Dakota to be near his much-loved children and grandchildren, who always held his heart.
Herb is survived by his wife, Martha; son, Eric (Christine) Townsend; daughter, Marcie (Andy) Viet; grandchildren, Zayda & Bree, and Briggs & Hailey. He is also survived by brothers, Jerry, Steve, and Scott; sisters, Rebecca and Dawn; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; sister, Susan; half-sister, Shirley; nephew, Craig; uncles, Gary and Loyd Townsend, and Rex and Dean Albert; and aunt, Georgetta McCamish.
“May each tear and each fond memory be a note of love rising to meet you.” ~ Jennifer Williamson
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