Herbert David Hadley was born January 25, 1914 in Monrovia, Indiana to Lelia (Cook) and Oren Z. Hadley. He died at the Horizon Hospice Home on May 30, 2009.

Herb grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and graduated from Earlham College with a BA degree in Geology. He then went to Chicago where he did two years of post-graduate studies at the University of Chicago as an instructor in courses covering topographic mapping and interpretation of aerial photography. He also taught courses in Geology and surveying at North Park College in Evanston, Illinois.

Herb married Bernice Mulvihill in Chicago, Illinois in 1939. She became his wife, companion and business partner for 60 years until the time of her death in 1999. They had three daughters, Patricia, Carol and Virginia.

In 1940, Herb became geologist for Magnolia Petroleum doing surface mapping and "well-sitting" in Illinois and Texas. He then spent two years in Venezuela, South America with Standard Oil of New York. In 1944, he and his family moved to Billings where he joined the United States Geological Survey. Herb mapped and surveyed the Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota area in support of the war effort. In 1947, he resigned from the Geological Survey to become a consulting geologist and maintained an office in Billings, Montana until his retirement in 1986. He was a co-organizer and Charter Member of the Yellowstone Country Club. In 1950, he and his wife Bernice formed the Northwest Geological Service with offices in Billings, Great Falls and Bismarck, North Dakota.

Herb was a member of many professional organizations including a Fellow of the Council of the American Geographical Society; co-organizer of the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists; organizer and Charter Member and Past-President of the Montana Geological Society. Herb was active in the community and social life of Billings as Chairman of the Water Board Adjudicator for the Moat vs. the United States in the Chromium Mine dispute in 1955; Conference Chairman of two geological meetings held in Billings in 1951 and 1972; co-organizer and Charter Member of the Billings Petroleum Club in 1950 serving as President in 1971.

He was honored by the University Of Montana School Of Mines in 1997 receiving the Sahinin Silver Medallion Award which was given in "recognition of significant contributions to the understanding and development of Montana mineral, energy and water resources."

Over the years, Herb published many articles on the geology of Montana and the surrounding areas including papers published by the Billings and Montana Geological Societies, the Montana Bureau of Mines, the United States Geological Society, the Mines Magazine and others.

Herb had a love and respect for nature all his life. He greatly enjoyed his family and was happiest going on fossil and rock hunting excursions, having picnics and back-yard get-togethers and playing games of all sorts with good friends. Following his mother's example, he liked to get his hands in the dirt and had a garden all of his life. Herb also had a love of music and listened to music every day which led to his providing a music program monthly for the residents of Westpark Village where he lived from 1998 until his death.

Herb was preceded in death by his wife Bernice; his daughter Patricia Moore and his grandson Kevin Hadley. He is survived by his daughters Carol (John) Limbach of Billings, and Ginnie (Dennis) Haines of Marietta, Georgia; his grandchildren Leslie (Kevin) Chambers of Billings, Stuart (Nikki) Wheeler of Everett, Washington, Michelle (Tim) Schwartz of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Chris (Kindra) Moore of Castle Rock, Colorado, Denise (Dustin) Drake of Hudsonville, Michigan and Angela (Bob) Madden of Aurora, Colorado; and his great-grandchildren Jesse Wheeler of Billings, Hadley, Duncan and Kennedy Chambers of Billings, Arianna and Dennis Drake of Hudsonville, Michigan, Keaton and Lexi Schwartz of Idaho Falls, Idaho and Corey Reynolds and Kimberlyn Moore of Castle Rock, Colorado; and his special long time friend, Helen P. Clark of Billings.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a contribution to Riverstone Health Horizon Hospice Home or a charity of your choice.

Memorial services will be 1pm Friday, June 19, 2009 at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary.