Donald Zimmerman

Funeral services for Donald Zimmerman, 86-year-old Buffalo resident who passed away Saturday at the Billings Clinic Hospital following a short illness, surrounded by his family, will be held Saturday, February 21^st at 11:00 a.m. at the Big Horn Baptist Church in Buffalo with Joe Landsiedel officiating.  A private family interment will take place at a later date. Donations in Don’s memory may be made to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation at 5705 Grant Creek Rd. in Missoula, Montana 59808. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.

Donald James Zimmerman was born on August 21, 1939, in Casper, Wyoming to Ed and Betty Zimmerman. He grew up and went to school in Casper and graduated from Natrona County High School with the class of 1958.  After high school, he drove truck for Zimmerman Crude Oil. He was married on July 8, 1972, in Casper to Barbara (Kuykendall) Bias, and they made their home in Casper.  In 1975, he was sent by his company to attend the University of Wyoming where he studied Civil Engineering for 3 years.  Don and Barbara moved back to Casper in 1978 where Don worked for N.R.C.S. as a draftsman who designed retention ponds, dams including Flaming Gorge Dam. In 1996, they moved to Glenrock, Wyoming for a short period and in 1997 Don retired, and they bought an RV and spent the next 20 years on the road. From 2012 until 2018 they were campground hosts and later mountain managers in the Bighorn Forest. Shortly after they moved to Buffalo where they have lived until his death.

Don was a member of the Odd Fellows and was an avid bowler and in 1988 he bowled a 300 game.  He loved woodworking and made each of his daughters a jewelry box and hope chests.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing and also enjoyed golf. He is survived by his wife Barbara of Buffalo; five daughters, Beckie Terzich and her husband John, Robyn Landsiedel and her husband Joe and Lisa Hemsath all of Buffalo; Pam O’Connell of Casper and Kathy Boehler of Billings, Montana; three sons Brad Zimmerman of Buffalo, Scott Zimmerman of Casper and Steve Zimmerman of Rapid City, South Dakota; twenty-two grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter Lori Clark, two sons-in-law, Moe Hemsath and Rodney Clark and one grandson Matthew Hemsath.