Alta Hillman Herman passed away May 6, 2023, at The Living Centre in Stevensville, Montana after a short battle with cancer. She was born April 14, 1962, in Hoisington, Kansas, the daughter of Joyce (Guthrie) and Homer Hillman.

Alta grew up in Great Bend, where she was a Girl Scout, participated in Argonne Rebels and volunteered as a Candy Striper at Central Kansas Medical Center. Alta graduated from Great Bend High School in the class of 1980. 

Alta worked as nurse’s aide at CKMC, then later became a Mental Health Technician at Larned State Hospital. There she met and fell in love with Bill Schad. They married and later moved to Syracuse, New York. Alta attended nursing school at Central Technical-Vocational Center in Syracuse and began a thirty-plus year career in nursing.

Bill and Alta later divorced, and she married Thomas Herman in Russell, Kansas. Alta worked as a nurse at Gatewood Care Center and Russell Regional Hospital. Alta and Tom later chose to make their home in Stevensville, Montana. Alta continued her nursing career at The Living Centre in Stevensville.

Alta is survived by her husband Tom, of the home; daughters Natashia Parker of Russell, Kansas and Nicole Whitney of North Syracuse, New York; a stepson Edward Schad of Cape Coral, Florida; grandchildren Zenith Hamlett, Ian Hamlett, Jasmine Whitney and Avalynn Parker; a sister, Edith (Owen) McQuade of Russell, Kansas; a brother Bill (Donna) Hillman of Battlefield Missouri; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. 

Alta chose cremation. There will not be a service.  Whitesitt Funeral Home of Stevensville, Montana is in charge of arrangements. 

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May 13, 2023