Thomas 'Tom' Zimmer

Thomas 'Tom' Zimmer, 86, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, Montana.

He was born Oct. 19, 1927, in Opheim, Mont., to North Valley County homesteaders, John and Gertrude (Niehoff) Zimmer, of German heritage. He was the seventh child out of 13. His brothers and sisters include Frances, James, Joseph, Anna Mae, Helen, Rose, Charles, Leo, John, Mark, Vincent and Lucille.

In 1955 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was in the Korean War and served a tour in Alaska. Serving his country was a privilege and honor. His love and appreciation for all who served their country was evident in his "Wall of Fame" in his room at Valley View, which included six brothers, three brothers-in-law, two uncles, cousins and friends.

In 1961, he and his brothers, Charlie and John, bought the Bonnabel Ranch in the Richland area. This is the historical ranch where the "Pigeon Toed Kid" was shot and killed. With this ranch came 1,500 sheep. These brothers were all hard-working and meticulous in every aspect of farming and ranching, especially their fences. They ran sheep for a couple years before finally reaching their goal of raising Line One Hereford cattle. At one time their whole bull battery was Cooper Hereford bulls.

In 1968, he married Dolores Pimperton. His next move was to Lewistown, Mont., where he worked on ranches around Martinsdale, Checkerboard and Two Dot. At one time he worked on a ranch that had buffalo. After caring for the buffalo, his thoughts were that they are the worst animal to domesticate.

After the death of his wife in 2007, he moved back to Glentana, which was always home to him. He kept busy by going to sales and buying goats, longhorn cattle, llamas, ducks and geese. His health was failing, and while away in Billings with medical problems, his house was destroyed in a fire. He lost everything except his faithful dog, "Annie." At this time he moved to Nemont Manor, still staying active with buying livestock. Due to continual failing health, he moved to Valley View Nursing Home and resided there the last years of his life.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Dolores Pimperton; seven brothers, Jim, Joe, John, Charlie, Leo, Mark and Vince Zimmer; and three sisters, Frances Daley, Mae Stein and Helen Stein.

Survivors include two sisters, Rose Taylor of Denver, Colo., and Lucille Awtrey of Odessa, Texas; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and great-great-nieces and -nephews; and one stepdaughter, Danette Bramble, of Fort Benton.

A rosary service was said Tuesday, April 29, at 7 p.m., at the Bell Chapel in Glasgow. Services were set for Wednesday, April 30, at 11 a.m. at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Glentana, with interment following in the Glentana Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice or to the Holy Family Catholic Church, 102 1st Ave N, Glentana, MT 59240.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.