Grover "Cleve" Cleveland Zimmerman

Cleve Zimmerman Pioneer of Sioux County, Dies 20th

Cleve Zimmerman, native of the Hat Creek Valley of Sioux County, died August 20 at his home one day before his 78th birthday.

Funeral services were held August 22 at the Memorial Methodist Church in Harrison with the Rev. James D. Keith officiating. Interment was at the Bodarc Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Maurice Keel, Bob Jordan, Bill Coffee, George Schaefer, Everett Thomas, and Buster Wickersham.

Musical selections were "In the Garden," "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," and "Shall We Gather at the River" sung by Mrs. Ruth Hall, Mrs. Phyllis Osborn, and Mrs. Phyllis Gillett. Mrs. Robert Todd was organist.

Cleve G. Zimmerman was born August 21, 1886, the youngest son of Henry and Margaret Zimmerman, early pioneers of the Hat Creek Valley who settled on the ranch at Bodarc in 1885 where members of the family still reside.

Cleve received his education in the public schools of this area and later worked on one of the larger cattle ranches in Wyoming for several years. He returned to the Valley and filed on a homestead adjoining the home where he was born.

On June 16, 1912, he married Mildred M. Eberspecher, daughter of another pioneer family. Six children were born: three sons, Harry, Emery, and Keith all of Harrison, and three daughters, Hilda Mae Harder of Buckeye, Arizona, and twins, Velma Jordan of Harrison and Elma Thayer, deceased.

After Elma's death in 1945, Cleve and Millie raised her daughter, Melba Rae who is now Mrs. Herb Palmer of San Diego, Calif.

Cleve resided on the family ranch until he retired and moved to Harrison in 1958. They celebrated their 52 wedding anniversary in June of this year.

He had been active in community affairs until the last few years. He was always available to help his neighbors in time of need. He was a member of the County Fair Board almost from its organization and was interested in the fair and rodeo until the time of his death.

Surviving are his wife and children, 14 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren.

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