Sheila Thomson Zimmerman

Sheila Thomson Zimmerman
December 18, 1933 – March 20, 2022
On the afternoon of their 58th wedding anniversary, Sheila Thomson Zimmerman, again took the hand of her true love, Russell Orin Zimmerman. After 15 years apart, they were able to embrace and celebrate the day together, taking a new journey in the eternities, filled with hope, joy, and unending love, never to be separated again.  In the fashion of a true Hallmark movie, they found the perfect storybook ending.
Shelia was born in Torry, Aberdeen Scotland on December 18, 1933, to John Thomson and Georgina Masson Thomson.  She was the fifth of six children, John, Georgina (who became ill and passed away at nine months old), Ethel, George, Sheila and Stanley.  She deeply loved and respected her parents and each of her siblings, admiring them for their individual gifts and talents.
For a brief time during WWII, approximately 2 years, the family moved from Torry to Lumphanan to get out away from the bombing.  It was a 3-bedroom cottage with a fireplace for a stove, an outhouse, and no indoor running water.  They rented the upstairs room to help with costs and yet still had an open-door policy. Often family members would stay with them for long weekends to also escape the bombings.  At age 10 they moved back to Torry, on Polwarth Road.  However, the time in Lumphanan was impactful for her family.  For the rest of their lives, they would refer to the small cottage as if it were a grand castle and take trips to the country to visit it which became known as the “Lumphanan Pilgrimage.”
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She was baptized in the River Dee at 13 when the war was over.  She held many callings and had a beautiful singing voice.  At 21 she was invited to serve a mission.  She accepted and was the first sister missionary from Aberdeen.  She served for 18 months in the London, England Mission.  Her companions became her lifelong friends.
After her mission she decided to take on a new adventure in 1958 and moved to the States at age 25.  She traveled in style taking a 3-week luxury Ocean liner cruise to make her crossing.  It was hard to separate from her family and friends, as she did not know how soon she would see them again.  She came for a trial period and ended up permanently immigrating.
Sheila was part of a Scottish Fireside group which gathered once a month for 50+ years.  As time progressed it changing to every 2 months.  Anyone who had immigrated or served a mission to Scotland was invited.  They would catch up on news from home and discus topics of interest.
She worked for HJ Heinze company and later at LDS Hospital.  She was part of the North 18th Ward in Salt Lake.  She again used her musical talents by putting on large productions of “Promised Valley” and other musicals in her stake.
She met Russell Zimmerman at a singles dance she had planned and executed for the stake.  She did not have a date and was getting ready to leave when he stopped her on the stairs and asked where she was going.  She was politely excusing herself when he asked her to dance.  They danced the rest of the night and less than a year later, on March 20, 1964, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
They shared a deep and abiding love.  It was not perfect, but it was very real and constant.  Throughout their life, you rarely thought of one without the other.  One year after they were married, they had their daughter Gina and 18 months later, welcomed their son Richard into their lives.
Five years after marriage, they moved to Sandy, Utah, purchased their first home and lived there for over 52 years.  At the time, Sandy seemed remote, and would they often comment that if they had moved one more mile south and they would have dropped off the edge of the earth.
Sheila was able to visit Scotland every few years, and family would travel over to see her as well.  Her goal was to keep her Scottish family close and create relationships with her new family.  She did this by finding ways to afford a long-distance phone call once a month, writing letters weekly and sending reel-to-reel tapes back and forth.  Her efforts paid off and good relationships have been created even into the next generation.
Sheila was a stay-at-home mom until her children were older, then she went to work part time, which developed into full time, at Rick Warner Ford in Salt Lake doing their accounting.  She stayed there until she retired.
She served in many church callings over the year.  Her favorite was anything with music. Her least favorite was being called as camp director, which she still did, but it was a test of her faith since she “was not a camper.”  She served as Primary President, Relief Society President, Sunday School teacher and many times as choir director or ward chorister. She loved serving in the Jordan River Temple with her husband for over 20 years, and then in the Draper, Utah temple.
She loved to throw a party and would organize birthdays, holidays, and church parties.  She was merciful and loving in all things, until game night, then it was every man/woman/child for themselves!  She liked a good game night playing Rook, Nines, Uno, Phase 10, Boggle, and many more.  She was steeped in family traditions such as Christmas Crackers (not the ones you eat), banging pans at New Years and putting out the nativity in her yard for Christmas. There wasn’t a Hallmark movie she didn’t watch and love.  She enjoyed going to the theater to see a production, especially musicals.  Her scriptures were always being read.  British chocolate, Hob Nobs, Byrd’s Eye custard, fish and chips, mince and tatties, tattie soup, mealie puddings, rowies, meat and potatoes and English toffee (tablet) were among here favorite foods.
Sheila’s home was a place everyone was welcome.  The joke became that if there was someone coming to Utah from Scotland, they were probably going to be staying at Sheila’s.  If family were coming over, there was usually a Disneyland trip involved, for which her husband and children were thrilled to participate. She cherished her family most of all and loved to spend time with them.
To her grandchildren, and their friends, she was Nana, and they the apple of her eye.  She loves them unconditionally.  She would support and attend any play, sports, or school program they were in, and be the first to buy whatever chocolates, candy, pizza, cookie dough or wrapping paper they were selling to support their cause.
Her life revolved around love and service to family, faith, and friends.  Once she met you, you were her friend.  If she felt you were in need of something, she was usually trying to find ways to help. Although her energy depleted quite suddenly in recent years, she continued to find small ways to serve those around her.
She will be missed, but she leaves a legacy of love and acceptance of all.
She leaves behind her children, Gina (Brent) Klopfer, Fruit Heights, Utah; Richard (Angela) Zimmerman, Layton, Utah, Joseph Zimmerman and 12 other grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren along with sister-in-law’s, nieces, nephews and dear friends.
A Viewing will be held on Sunday, March 27th from 6-8 pm. at the Memorial Murray Mortuary, 5850 South 900 East, Murray, Utah.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 28th at 12:00 p.m., with a viewing 1 hour prior, at the Hillcrest 9th ward house on 915 E. 9045 S., Sandy, Utah.
On behalf the family, we would like to express our gratitude for all you have done for our Mother/Nana throughout the years. You were never far from her heart. A special thank you to the dedicated and loving care workers from Canyon Home Health and Hospice. Your ability to offer consistent kindness, love, and compassion while helping her maintain grace and dignity have been deeply appreciated.
 
Here is the Zoom Link Provided by the Family for Friends and other Family members to use.
 
https://zoom.us/j/96497973110?pwd=c05VOTMrZlFseEVvZGVJLzJhQjJHZz09
Service Information
Viewing March 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Memorial Murray Mortuary, 5850 S 900 E Murray, Utah 84121





Viewing March 28, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Hillcrest 9th ward house on 915 E. 9045 S., Sandy, Utah





Funeral Service
March 28, 2022 at 12:00 PM
915 East 9045 South, Sandy, Utah, 84094