Herbert Weik

Herbert (Herb) Adolf Weik passed away peacefully at the age of 84 surrounded by his family on April 30, 2019 at the Billings Clinic, Billings Montana following a courageous fight with leukemia. Herb was born on December 21, 1934 to the late Elizabeth (Brunswick) Weik and late Adolph Weik in Brooklyn, New York. A proud native of New York he loved sharing stories of growing up in New York. He enlisted in the Air Force after completing high school in 1953. Through his 22 year Air Force career Herb served as an aircraft and engine mechanic before being accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program. In 1956 He received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant with an aeronautical rating as a navigator. He flew KC-97 tankers as part of the 97th Air Refueling Squadron, one of the Air Force's first air refueling units, and was stationed in Great Falls, Montana at Malmstrom AFB. It was in Great Falls that he met his love, Norma (Tveit) and married in 1960. As an aviator Herb held the position of instructor and Wing Standardization Navigator. His overseas service as a navigator included Labrador. Herb flew as a member of a highly rated crew in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) bombing-navigation competition. Later, Herb was assigned to a Titan I missile squadron during which time he held a critical role positioned in a missile silo near Rapid City, South Dakota at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Herb served in Oxfordshire, England at RAF Upper Heyford where he was commander of the 2168 Communications Squadron. RAF Upper Heyford was a key US joint forces site during the Cold War Era. He was commissioned as Major on December 20, 1967 while on tour in England. As his final overseas tour he joined the staff of the Military Airlift Command (MAC) Headquarters in South Vietnam. He returned to Malmstrom AFB in Montana where he had settled his family in nearby Great Falls. Herb retired May 1, 1973. He was a dedicated serviceman very proud of his military career and instrumental in establishing the Malmstrom Heritage Museum and Air Park. His Air Force career honors include The Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal. Following his Air Force career, Herb completed his Bachelor's Degree in Business through the College of Great Falls and embarked on his second career as a financial planner and investor with Waddell and Reed, Inc. He was passionate about his work and loved engaging with people in this regard. In addition to working with clients, he taught financial planning classes through the local community college. In 1985 Herb moved the family to Billings, Montana where he opened a branch office with Waddell and Reed, Inc. and served as the Division Manager for several years before moving to private consulting and estate planning. Herb never fully retired from his work. Apart from 2 careers, Herb was very active in his faith communities through Our Savior's Lutheran Church (OSLS) in Great Falls and Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Billings. He served on the church finance and call committees as well as other multiple committees and church council at both churches. He held 2 terms as council president at OSLC. He served as a Stephen Minister through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Herb was a devoted husband and father. Alongside his wife of 58 ½ years (Norma) they raised a family of three children who are all successful in their lives. Along with Norma, the value and privilege of advanced education was instilled in the children. As a result, all three children have achieved Master's Degrees in their career fields. Herb was always very proud of his children and grandchildren and loved to keep up with each one. Herb's nature was very upbeat and positive; always encouraging his family to persevere through challenging times and look for the positives. He loved to tease and play but also had a very serious side. He was quite the history buff and excellent with trivia, earning bragging rights for how quickly he could solve his daily crossword puzzles. He had a passion for cooking and was a self-made chef frequently creating amazing dinners. He and Norma embraced the English lifestyle while the family was stationed in England and adopted some of the English traditions. Deeply proud of his German heritage he brought that aspect into the family teaching many German traditions to his family. He loved living in Montana and calling the beautiful state his home. He and Norma would venture out through frequent weekend sightseeing excursions as well as trips to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. Just like John Muir, Herb would often say “The mountains are calling…” and off they would go for a drive to the mountains for a day or a weekend. Herb was survived by his wife Norma (Tveit) for just 3 weeks, before she succumbed to an extended illness. He is survived by daughter Anneliese Weik (Seattle, WA), son, Dieter (Betty) Weik, (Ridgecrest, CA), daughter Karstin (Matt) Kliewer (Auburn, WA) and 6 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Robert (Mariane) Weik (New York) and sisters-in-law Carol (late Arvid) Tveit (Sun City West, AZ) and Gladys (late Robert) Bain (Bismarck, ND) as well as many nieces and nephews. At his request no funeral service was held. He was interned along with wife Norma on November 8, 2019 at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Washington State with full military honors. The family asks that anyone wishing to remember him with a donation please contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project in his name.