Bertha Morrison

Bertha Mae (Zumbrunnen) Morrison was born to Victor and Bertha Annen Zumbrunnen on March 3, 1918. She left this world on February 14, 2017. Bertha was a Wife, Mother, Mother-in-law, Sister, Aunt, Grandma, Great Grandma, soon to be Great Great Grandma and a friend to all. She had an infectious love for life as well as a love for history, travel, rodeo, ranching, gardening and most of all people. It was said that the Morrison home was open to all! There was never a time they couldn't put more plates on the table or make an extra bed. She started school in the Upper Naneum school house until 4th grade. She also attended the Junior High, in Ellensburg, the first year it was built, and graduated from Ellensburg High. After high school, Bertha worked as a switchboard operator and in 1938, she met and married Chet Morrison. After Chet's death in 1980, she worked for the Kittitas County Crisis Line. She was honored with the Community Service award in 1998 from the Naneum Grange. She was a member of the American Legion and the Moose Lodge where she was awarded the International Co-Worker of the year for Women of the Moose in 2003. She spent many hours at the Moose volunteering. Bertha was very involved in the Ellensburg Rodeo and the history of Kittitas County. She was in charge of press passes for the rodeo, was a board member of the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame for over a decade and the Morrison Family was inducted into The Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1998. She received the Maynard Linder Rodeo Spirit Award in 2000 and the Lo Driver Award with buckle in 2001. She was co-founder of the Rodeo Valley Riders and was a jockey for thoroughbred horse relay races as well as some matched races. Bertha was Chairman of the Kittitas County History Committee and the Centennial committee co-chair. She was the Book Chairman for the 'History of Kittitas County Washington' book and won the Governor's Centennial Award for the book itself and the same award for her part in making the book in 1989. She spent countless hours collecting stories and pictures about the Kittitas Valley. Ranching was Bertha's way of life. She loved watching the baby calves in the spring and all of the hubbub around branding time. It was a time to get all the neighbors together for hard work and a lot of 'catching up'! Bertha always made sure everyone had enough to eat after the branding. She loved her garden, flowers and canning. She was a wealth of information of wild edibles in Kittitas Valley. But her greatest love was people. Bertha never knew a stranger and was always willing to help a neighbor. It did not matter if you were not the 'huggy type' you were going to get a hug from Bertha. She loved kids, especially her grand-kids and great grand-kids. She would sit and look through picture albums with them telling the stories and laughing! She never tired of telling stories! Whenever you would part company with Bertha you always got a hug then these words, "love ya, see ya later Kid." Bertha lived a good long life! At her 90th birthday party as she left she said "see ya all at 100!" That was her goal and she only missed it by 1 year and 18 days! She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Rosa Zumbrunnen Covey, brother Fred Zumbrunnen, her husband Chet, Bill Lumsden her wonderful companion, foster son Larry Gleason, and a niece and nephew. She is survived by her sons, Chet (Tuffy) of Ellensburg and Tommy, (wife Ginger) of Deer Park, WA; foster son Scott Dieringer (wife Linda) and family of Wikieup, AZ; her grandchildren Tammy Morrison Hansen (husband Jeff )of Loon Lake, WA; and Victor Morrison ( wife Marcy) of Clayton,WA.; niece Mary Haina of Barrington, IL; nephew Joe Covey (wife Jenny) of Cle Elum, WA. and 9 great-grandchildren: Caleb, Lexy, Baylee, Matthew, Garrett, Elsa, Justine, Ben and Tristian.Services will be held on Thursday February 23, 2017. There will be a family graveside service at 11:00 am at the IOOF Cemetery in Ellensburg, followed by a public Celebration of Life at 1:00 pm at the American Legion Hall, 1101 Craig Ave, Ellensburg, WA, with lunch to follow. The family wished to thank Prestige Post Acute & Rehab Center and staff for their wonderful care of Bertha. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bertha's name to The Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame, 110 W. 6th Box 374, Ellensburg, WA. 98926 or a charity of your choice in her memory. - Arrangements under the direction of Steward & Williams Tribute Center, Ellensburg, WA.