Herbert “Herb” Billman, 86, Dickinson, died on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. Herb’s Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Dennis Schafer as celebrant. Interment will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a Rosary and Vigil at 7 p.m. with Deacon Ross Reiter presider. Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Tuesday.
Herbert “Herb” Billman was born on August 21, 1939, with his twin brother Richard, in New England. He was the son of Leo and Barbara (Weiler) Billman. As a young child, he moved with his parents and siblings to the family farm southwest of South Heart.
Herb attended country school and later graduated from Belfield High School in 1958. On June 6,1961, he married Kathleen Gaab, and together they were blessed with five children.
Throughout his life, Herb worked many jobs, including Hamann Livestock, Dickinson Cheese Factory, his own cattle trucking business, and Dowell Oil Service. He also raised cattle, horses, and chickens on the family homestead, where he raised and butchered his own beef and pork and made homemade sausage. Herb had his own registered cattle brand, -T and KB.
Herb was involved in cattle roping, and he and his friends often helped one another round up cattle. They even held their own personal rodeos, riding cows and sharing plenty of laughter along the way. Herb was skilled at fixing just about anything, from household repairs to automobile and tractor troubles, and he even built an addition onto the family home.
Herb and Kathleen were members of the Beef Country Riders Horse Club and shared many memorable trail rides together in the Killdeer Mountains, Medora, Devils Tower, the Big Horn Mountains, and the Teton Mountains. Herb was also a member of St. Anthony Club and St. Joseph’s Church. He cherished camping and fishing trips with his family. He also made homemade cheese and root beer pop for his family. He had a sweet tooth and enjoyed ice cream and Kathleen’s baked goods. He loved gathering with family and friends for drinks and conversations, snowmobiling, dancing polkas and waltzes, board games, and playing cards, especially pinochle.
At the age of 43, Herb suffered a massive stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side and impaired his speech. Even so, he was a true inspiration. He learned to walk with a cane and found ways to communicate with others the best he could, which mainly consisted of drawings and writing words. His determination and resilience were evident in the way he continued doing the things he loved. Herb especially loved spending time in his garage, fixing and building all kinds of things. He adapted a riding lawnmower to meet his needs so he could continue mowing, rebuilt and painted an old wooden wagon, and enjoyed riding his three-wheel bike.
His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren, playing cards, and giving them rides in his Harley-Davidson golf cart.
Herb will always be remembered for his great laugh, his love for horses, his western shirts, and the way he greeted others with a handshake or fist bump.
Herb is survived by his and Kathleen’s children, Kevin, Brighton, CO, Karen (Elijah) Cornell, Mandan, Keyna (Charles) Kveum, Souris, Kayla (Ted) Meyer, Dickinson, and Keith (Jody) Billman, Dickinson; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his sister, MaryAnn Polensky; his brothers, Leo Billman and Joe (Darlene) Billman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen, on February 5, 2026; his parents; brothers, John and Richard; sisters, Lorraine and Leona; son-in-law, Darin Hickel; and several in-laws.
