Alberta "Bertie" Zimmerman

Hamilton - Alberta "Bertie" Zimmerman, 94, passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2013 at Discovery Care Centre in Hamilton, Montana.
She was born August 22, 1918 in Shelley, Idaho, the daughter of Alberto Philip Longhurst and Anna Magdaline Bolander. Bertie was the oldest of 10 living children; 1 older sister died at the age of 2.
On November 25, 1936 she married Melvion Peter Christiansen in Logan, Utah in the Church of Latter-day Saint Temple. To that marriage a daughter Melba was born in 1937. Melvion passed away March 20, 1940.
On 24 February 1941 she married Victor William Zimmerman in Idaho Falls, Idaho. To that marriage four children were born: Virgie, Shirley, Margie, and Karry.
Bertie and Vic moved to Grant county, North Dakota, where Vic was born and raised, shortly after they were married. Virgie, Shirley and Margie were born there. In 1949 they moved to Salmon, Idaho, and in 1953 they bought a Grade A dairy which we lovingly called "the ranch". On the ranch, along with the dairy, they had sheep, raised hay and some grain, chickens and a few pigs. Vic also worked out as a carpenter, and among other building projects, worked on the Leadore School in about 1957. Their son Karry was born in Salmon.
In 1958 they sold the dairy and in January 1959 they moved to Hamilton where Vic continued to build homes.
Bertie and Vic loved to play pinochle with many friends. It wasn't unusual for them to play pinochle 3-4 times a week with different couples. Bertie had a beautiful yard, garden and flowers, which she loved, and where she spent most of her time. She also loved to read books of all kinds.
Bertie went to Discovery Care Center five years ago due to the advancement of her Alzheimer's disease. Vic joined her there shortly after that, and was there until his death in 2009.
Bertie was preceded in death by her husband Melvion Peter Christiansen, and her husband Victor William Zimmerman, her parents, daughters Melba Kerns, Virgie Stoneback, and Shirley Zimmerman, who died as an infant; brothers Lyle, Doyle and Marion Longhurst, sisters Gayle Longhurst who died at the age of 2, Betty Green, Louise Sawyer, and Bonnie Pugh.
She is survived by her daughter Margie (Norm) Jackson and her son Karry (Lezlee) Zimmerman, both of Hamilton; 2 brothers, Philip Longhurst of Oakridge, Tennessee and Jerry Longhurst of Longmont, Colorado; a sister Dorothy Christensen of Fruit Heights, Utah; 12 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.