Wilbert Lambert

1931 - 2016

Wilbert "Bert" Lambert

Great Falls —Wilbert (Bert) Lambert, 84 of Great Falls died of natural causes Wednesday, May 25th, 2016 after a short illness. Bert was born in Grants Pass Oregon on December 10, 1931 to Odren Lambert and Lula (Elliott) Lambert. Bert loved the Oregon coast, the fruit orchards, and the railroad which ran near their home.

The family moved to Ontario, Oregon where Bert attended junior high and High school. Bert graduated from Ontario High School with honors in 1950 and after working on area farms joined the U.S. Army in 1953, serving two years as a corporal and company clerk.

After the army Bert returned to Oregon and began work at the Lime cement plant. In 1954 he met the love of his life, Janet Ketchum on a blind date. In August of 1955 Bert and his not quite 18-year-old bride decided to elope and asked Janet's parents' permission to travel to Nevada to marry. Arriving in Lovelock, Nevada they went to the Justice of the Peace to request he conduct the ceremony. Returning to the city offices an hour later they were surprised to see the sheriff's patrol car parked near the office. Bert was convinced he was about to be arrested. Instead, the Justice of the Peace had found the prerequisite witnesses, in this case the sheriff and deputy sheriff. Theirs was a very legal wedding that would last for 55 years.

Bert and Janet returned to Oregon for a short time and then moved to Lompoc, California for two years. They later returned to Ontario where Bert returned to the cement plant. In 1964 they felt they needed an adventure and decided to pack their three children, a cat and a dog, and explore western Canada. However, Bert valued his U.S. citizenship and returned to the U.S. via Montana, taking a ranching job in Simms so the children could attend school.

In 1968 they moved to the Fairfield bench near Greenfield where Bert began his career working for the Greenfield Irrigation District. Bert worked there for 28 years, enabling him to do what he loved, work around farms and farmers. He worked as a ditch rider, an equipment operator, and retired as the water master.

Bert lost his lifelong partner, Janet, suddenly in 2010, and knew no one would ever replace her. Bert moved to Great Falls in 2011 and spent the remainder of his life there. He is preceded in death by his parents, Odren and Lula Lambert, his older brother, Adren, five brothers who died at birth or shortly thereafter, his in-laws, Robie and Thelma Ketchum, brothers-in-law Buddy Ketchum, Ray Kittleman, and Charles Laseman, and his beloved wife Janet.

Bert is survived by two sisters, Alma Laseman of Boise, Idaho and Lyna Kittleman of Payette, Idaho, his children Penny (Ken) Beard, son Todd Lambert, daughter Rose Foresman, and son Dale (Sandra) Lambert; grandchildren Amy (Justin) Smith, Alex Palmer, Lindsey (James) Mack, Samuel Lambert and Jessica Foresman, and great grandchildren Gracie Archambault, Kaylee Smith, McKenna Smith, Jacob Mack, and longtime family friend Craig Johnson. Bert also wanted to remember his friend of 70 years, Wayne Palmer. They roamed the hills and rivers of Oregon together when Bert was young; he had very fond memories of that time.

Bert loved working as an amateur arborist, lovingly pruning and caring for the windbreak at his Greenfield area home, cutting firewood for the old wood furnace in the basement, and holidays where the family would gather and Bert could enjoy his favorite food, any kind of pie.

While he lived a long life, there was never enough time and we were not ready for his passing. We remember him with love, a great sense of loss and the joy of knowing he is no longer in pain and is reunited with his great love, Janet.

A private ceremony for the family is planned at a later date.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com