Gilbert Edward Zimbelman, 93
Gilbert Edward Zimbelman of Great Falls passed away on Friday, Sept. 2, 2011.
Born Jan. 13, 1918, Gilbert was 93 years young.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Edward T. Zimbelman and Clara (Kauk) Zimbelman; and his sister, Viola Heien.
He is survived by his wife, Othilda Irene “Tillie” Zimbelman. He is also survived by his four children, Jerry and Karlyn Zimbelman of Conrad, Jean and LeRoy Cyr of East Helena, Larry and Beth Zimbelman of Conrad, and Linda and Rob Fee of Friendswood, Texas; plus 14 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.
On Thanksgiving night 1938, Gilbert and his cousin attended a dance where he was introduced to Othilda. That night he told his cousin, “I’m going to marry that woman.” Five weeks later, on New Year’s Eve, they were married at the Rainbow Hotel in Great Falls. On New Year’s Eve 2010 they celebrated 72 years of marriage together.
After marriage Gilbert and Tillie followed the footsteps of three generations and farmed in Brady until their oldest son Jerry took over the farm. They also owned dude ranches in Lincoln and Spotted Bear. They always had an “open door” policy, where guests were greeted with a “howdy” and a hot cup of coffee. Many stayed for a meal and games of bridge, cribbage or Polish Pinochle.
Over five decades Gilbert and Tillie guided many trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. In following years many visitors to the Bob enjoyed campfire stories of Gilbert’s colorful adventures in the wilderness.
After they sold the dude ranches they retired to Yuma, Ariz., (where to their delight many friends came to visit), but after seven years they grew restless and bought the Sundance Campground in Coram. After the sale of the Sundance, they moved to Kalispell for a couple of years before they eventually settled in Great Falls, where they resided until poor health necessitated a move to East Helena to be with family.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at the Pondera Funeral Home in Conrad. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 13, at the Brady Methodist Church, with Gilbert’s nephew, Alan Tronson, officiating. A celebration of life reception will follow at the Brady Community Hall. Internment will be at 4 p.m. at the Conrad Cemetery with Gilbert’s six grandsons serving as pallbearers.
The family asks that all donations be made to Hospice of St. Peters, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601, in lieu of flowers.