Eunice Dorothy Burns-Ackerman

Eunice Dorothy Burns-Ackerman, 87, of Hershey, passed away April 2, 2014 at Centennial Park Retirement Village.  She was born Aug. 21, 1926 to Leroy P. and Eunice (Bartells) Burns at Clyde Park, MT.  She was the sixth of eight children that lived near Sedan, MT where she attended school thru the eighth grade.  She graduated from high school in Bozeman, MT and later became a registered nurse through Montana School of Nursing in 1947.  That year she married Ray A. Schultz and they lived on a farm north of Gallatin Gateway, MT.  They had four children but divorced after 27 years of marriage.  She later remarried Albert Ackerman of Bozeman.  Dorothy worked as a nurse for 36 years at the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and for Dr. Douglas Alvard in private practice.  She enjoyed working as a nurse, gardening, sewing for family and friends, and doing various handi-crafts.  She attended the farmers market in Bozeman for 15 years where she sold fresh garden produce, floral bouquets, and hand braided rugs.  Dorothy moved to Hershey, NE in 2005 to live with her eldest daughter Beverly Lyon on a small ranch south of town.  She continued to grow a large garden, tend flowers, and spoil all the animals including 3 mini donkeys.  She called them "little pick-pockets" and hand fed them "tid-bits" on a daily basis.  She was a determined, talented, frugal and very thrifty woman who loved to take care of things and watch them grow behind her green thumb.   Dorothy was a member of the Ladies Garden Club in Hershey.  She is preceded in death by her parents; a son Ronald in 1967; four brothers; Robert, Charles, Clarence, and Henry; and her sister Ruth.  Dorothy is survived by a daughter, Beverly of Hershey; a son, Ed (Debbie) Schultz of Gallatin Gateway, MT and a daughter,  Nancy (Charles) Cruff of Albany, CA;  two brothers,  Wesley Burns of Belgrade, MT and W. Bruce (Suzanne) Burns of Albany, CA;  eight grandchildren;  Jason Lingard of Billings, MT;  Justin (Patti) Hains of Florissant, CO;  Niki (Dennis) Hipp of Scottsdale, AZ;   Denny Bowden of Mesa, AZ;  Debbie Bowden of Mesa, AZ;  Brian (Jennifer)  Schultz of Queen Creek, AZ;  Kari West of Bozeman, MT;  Julie  Schultz of Lacey, WA; and twelve great grandchildren.   A private family burial will be held at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, MT.  Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.