Hamilton – Bertha L. (Lunceford) Williamson, 83, of Hamilton passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital’s Hospice and Palliative Center from complications of Alzheimers’/dementia.
She was born May 9, 1932, in Big Timber to Fred and Christina (Ross) Lunceford. She moved to the Bitter Root at 5 years old with her family. She lived and attended schools in Darby, Hamilton, Corvallis, finishing up at Victor High School.
She married Bill Williamson on April 7, 1950. Raising her three children as a stay-at-home mother, she was an excellent helpmate to dad as well as volunteering as a room mother at our schools. She was a wonderful hostess to friends and family as we enjoyed her outstanding cooking and baking skills. She was an accomplished seamstress making her daughters’ special dresses and prom formals through high school and their weddings. She enjoyed knitting heirloom afghans for all her grandchildren and almost all her great- grandchildren.
Bertha and Bill were partners in the busy Bitter Root Jaycees of the 1960s, spending many hours of work and fun at Memorial Day River Race Barbecues and the Fair Booth under the grandstand. They shared an interest in helping with the reincarnation of the Daly Mansion in the 1980s; they were Charter Trust Members and Bertha led the team of house cleaners making the Mansion presentable for tours as dad did needed maintenance work. Bertha served as Interim Director at the Mansion during a transitional period in August and September, 1989.
Bertha is preceded in death by her parents and her parents-in-law Loren and Dorothy Williamson, brothers John, Ernie, Edwin, Kelly and sisters Eva Lunceford, Isabel Dickinson, Hughena Sandsness, and Blanche Mielke .
Survivors include her brothers Tom (Bettie), Deer Lodge, and Charles, Blackfoot, ID; sisters-in-law Jessie of Stevensville, Willa in Smelterville, ID and Marge in Oakridge, OR and many nieces and nephews
Her direct survivors are her loving husband, Bill; son Randy (Claudia) of Hamilton, daughters Vikki (Ken) Bell and Valli (Rod) Meuchel, all of Hamilton. Bertha’s beloved grandchildren are Robbi (Kevin) Reed and sons Sam and Eli of Woodinville, WA, Eva (Brian) Reed, son Zylen and, daughters Alora and Aubrey of Sacramento, CA, Avril (Adam) Witucki, daughters Lauren and Dakota and son Dyllan of Weston, WI , Tory (Cade) Johnson, sons Jonas, Noah, Benjamin and daughter Annelaine of Hamilton, Natalie Meuchel (Ryan Hopkins) and son to be born in July of Vernon Hills, IL, Meredith (Heath) Smith and sons Flynn and Clay of Ranchester, WY, and Lucas (Lacey) Meuchel and son Connor of Portland, OR.
Also surviving are her special second family of Williamsons: Don (Joni), Omaha, NE; Helen(Jim) Koures of Missoula; Norma (Kermit) Lawver, Sheridan, MT; Dean of Sequim, WA; Dale Ann (Dick) Ward, Hamilton; Wayne (Beth Cromwell), Potomac; Terry (Peggy) of Victor; Mary K., Missoula and 15 nieces and nephews.
Visitation was Thursday evening, June 25, at the First Presbyterian Church, 1220 West Main Street in Hamilton. Funeral services were Friday, June 26, at the First Presbyterian Church in Hamilton with Rev. Janet Malone officiating. A private family interment service at the Riverview Cemetery followed after the funeral with a reception after the service in the church reception hall.
The Pallbearers are: Lucas Meuchel, Heath Smith, Adam Witucki, Cade Johnson, Kevin Reed, and Brian Reed. Honorary Pallbearers are: Sam and Eli Reed.
The family suggests that memorials be made to the American Alzheimers’ Association, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice Center, the Daly Mansion Trust or a charity of your choice.