Herbert Penner
Herbert Victor Penner, 98, died Feb. 19, 2026, in Glasgow.
He was born Aug. 6, 1927, to Henry and Mary (Lentzner) Penner in Anaheim, Calif. The family later moved to Larslan to pursue farming. He graduated from Glasgow High School in 1945, then went on to attend Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas. He transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula where he finished his college career, graduating in 1951 with a degree in Business Administration.
He worked for International Harvester in Billings for a year, then came home to help his father with farming. He had an interesting and busy lifestyle as he also began another career in Cyprus, Calif., doing taxes for a number of wealthy clients during the tax season, then returning to Larslan to farm the rest of the year.
He enjoyed spending time with his sister, Clara Unruh, and her husband and niece and nephews who lived near him in California. It was while he was in Cyprus, Calif., that he met Verna and they were married there on Jan. 19, 1974. He and Verna continued to split their time between southern California and Larslan until eventually retiring in Glasgow for their later years.
They were active members of the Larslan Mennonite Brethren Church for many years, then the Lustre MB Church, and enjoyed attending the Glasgow Evangelical Church during their final years in Glasgow.
He was a kind man, always ready with a polite greeting and a friendly smile. He was a gentleman by every definition, a businessman and a farmer. He enjoyed cars and working on them and took great care to ensure his personal driving car was always clean and polished. At one point, he restored a Harley Davidson vintage motorcycle that he donated to a museum and eventually sold.
He and Verna spent 49 years together until her death in 2023. He was a man of faith that greatly valued a relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Verna; and two sisters: Clara Unruh and Lola Pyle; a stepdaughter, Jerie Keil of Utah; and a stepson, Ronald Sachs of California.
Burial has taken place at the Highland Cemetery in Glasgow. A memorial service will be held at a later date this summer.
