Harriette Zimmer

Harriette Zimmer, age 91 of Belle Fourche, died Saturday, May 25, 2024 at the Hendricks Community Nursing Home in Hendricks, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1pm Monday, July 8, 2024 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Belle Fourche.  Interment will take place in Pine Slope Cemetery.   Visitation will be held 4 to 6pm Sunday, July 7^th at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche, with a time of story-telling at 5pm.  

Harriette Louise McGahn was born in St. Paul, MN to Emanuel and Mary (Fox) McGahn on December 6, 1932. She was the youngest child and joined her siblings: Helen, MaryJane, Margaret Anne, Emanuel (Bud), Edwin, and John Joseph (Jack). She attended school in St.Paul. She went to eighth grade in Caracas, Venezuela. She graduated from Johnson High School, St. Paul in 1950.  She was united in marriage to Robert D. (Mick) McTavish on November 17, 1951 in St. Paul,MN. They then moved to Belle Fourche, SD, Mick’s hometown. From this union came 5 children: Diane Ruth, William Robert, Roberta Faye, JoAnne, and Timothy Edward. Harriette had a beautiful voice and performed at many area events and occasions. She sang in church choirs in her hometown of St. Paul and at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Belle Fourche.  She was a member of the LaBelle Chanteurs, Community Choruses, and was a favorite of the“1902 Cowboys”, singing at many of their events. Harriette was the past president of the Hospital Auxiliary, member of the first hospital board at the BFHCC, president of the Church Alter Society, and was awarded Regional and State Nursing Home Volunteer of the year, 1980. She was also named “Employee of the Year” in 1996 by the BFHCC.

Harriette worked at the Belle Fourche Health Care Center and Nursing Home as an aide from 1980 to 1997. She also worked at the John Burns Memorial Hospital for three years in Medical Records. For many years, she did her most important job, raising her children. Her husband Mick passed away in January 1974. On August 17, 1974, Harriette married Robert (Bob) Zimmer. With the combination of their families, the couple now were the parents of 9, the youngest of whom was 14. For the next several years, there were many challenges and much chaos. Harriette tried her best to be a “mom” to all her children. The “kids” will be the first to tell you that they did not make this easy for her. Many marriages, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren would join the family in the coming years. Harriette spent as much time with her family as possible. She loved her yearly “Grandma’s Day” with her grandchildren. Many great memories were made on these special adventures. Bob passed away in January, 2007. Harriette remained in their family home for many years and spent a short time in an apartment in Belle Fourche before moving to Astoria, SD to live with her daughter JoAnne. She would then move to Hendricks, MN. She spent the last 7 years as a resident of Hendricks Nursing Home. She was everyone’s “favorite” patient. She was always entertaining the staff and residents with her wonderful sense of humor and her stories.

She will be greatly missed by her family: Diane (Ed) Bostick of Riverton, WY, Bill (Jane) McTavish of Keokuk, IA, Roberta (Mike) Fox of Belle Fourche, SD, JoAnne (Marv) Ovall of Astoria, SD, Tim (Kay) McTavish of Hill City, SD, Steve (Sheri) Zimmer of Rapid City, SD, Scott (Laurie) Zimmer of Oklahoma City, OK, Dean Zimmer of Camarillo, CA., many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Her sister Margaret Ann of CA and sisters-in-law, Beryl McGahn and Donna McGahn of MN.  She was preceded in death by her husbands - Robert (Mick) McTavish and Robert (Bob) Zimmer; her parents, Emanuel (Mac) and Mary McGahn; brothers, Bud, Ed, and Jack; sisters, Helen and Mary Jane; son, Dan Zimmer; great-grandchildren, Tehlula Lee Thompson and Rhett Warren Fox; great-great-grandchild, Cody Remington Flowers; and mother and father in-law, Jack and Roberta McTavish; step-mother in-law, Theo McTavish.