Alda Pearl Zerr, 86
Alda Pearl Zerr, 86, of Whitefish, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, of complications due to pneumonia.
Alda was born on Feb. 8, 1923, in Kalispell, the daughter of Robert H. and Jennie McFadden.She grew up in Whitefish and graduated from Whitefish High School in 1941, and then worked as switchboard operator at the Great Northern relay office.
She met Kenneth J. Stodden of Butte at a summer church camp on Flathead Lake, and the two were married March 3, 1946.Their son Bradley was born in May of 1947, and joined by sister Janis three years later.
Alda was widowed in 1955.In 1959 Alda married Jerold J. "Jack" Zerr, owner and manager of the Cadillac Hotel and the Hanging Tree restaurant in Whitefish.Son Jeffrey was born in 1961.
Life with Jack was kept busy with his involvement in youth sports, especially baseball, and Winter Carnival activities (he served as the first carnival's King Ullr I). Again widowed in 1981, Alda retired from the railroad in 1983 as secretary to the assistant superintendent, with over 33 years of service.
She was active in the local Methodist Church, P.E.O., and the Order of the Eastern Star, but nothing brought more joy to her heart than, "Life itself ... faith in God ... my family and friends ... reading and flower gardening."She traveled when she could to visit family and friends, often to Sun City, Calif., where Jack's parents lived.
Alda was preceded in death by her father and mother; older sister, Eva Marie, who died as a teenager; and both of her husbands.
She is survived by her brother, Robert W. "Wayne" McFadden, of Whitefish; two sons, Brad Stodden of Whitefish, and Jeff Zerr of Boulder, Colo.; one daughter, Janis Olson, and husband, Gaylund, of Hebron, N.D.; two grandsons, Jeremy Olson and wife Billiejo of Belgrade, and Glen Olson, presently studying medicine at the Uniform Services University in Bethesda, Md.; and five great-grandchildren, also of Belgrade.
Alda felt blessed to enjoy long life, good health and the privilege of living in her own home.After a sudden coughing spell on Monday, Alda entered North Valley Hospital Wednesday night, was transferred to the hospital in Kalispell Saturday morning, and passed away less than 24 hours later. Though she will be missed by family and many friends, we celebrate her remarkable life and selfless service to many in the community.
Cremation was at Austin Funeral Home. A celebration of Alda's life will be observed at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, at the Whitefish United Methodist Church, at 1150 Wisconsin Avenue.