Constance ‘Connie’ Mcveigh Hertz

Constance "Connie" McVeigh Hertz passed away on Aug. 8, 2016, from the results of Alzheimer's, with her loving husband Jim (Jimmy) Hertz by her side.

She was born on May 28, 1936, to Hiram McVeigh and Velma Swift Ramirez in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1945, when she was in the third grade, her parents moved her and her brother Jack to Billings, where she attended McKinley Elementary School and graduated from Senior High School in 1954. She attended Billings Business College (BBC) for bookkeeping.

She met the love of her life, Jim, in 1953 at a party. It was love at first sight. They were married on June 12, 1954. From this marriage, they had three children: their son, Todd (Donna) Hertz of Billings; daughter Kerrie (Bruce) Robertson of Bozeman; and daughter Jamie (Paul) Miron of Billings.

Connie was a stay-at-home mom, raising her three children and always volunteering. She worked with her sister-in-law Carol Ramirez for the Chamber of Commerce as a Blue Blazer. She then became the bookkeeper and office manager for the company Jim founded in 1978, Encode Corporation.

She and Jim enjoyed many years of traveling in their motorhome with their grandchildren to the Black Hills and along the west coast. They frequently traveled to Yellowstone Park and celebrated every anniversary there for 62 years. Getting together with family over the holidays brought her great joy. Connie was a wonderful grandmother to her eight grandchildren, Matthew (Blake) Hertz, Rachel (Hertz) Laird, Patrick (Amanda) Hertz, Katie Hertz; Aaron Robertson, Cole (Abbi) Robertson, Andrew Miron and Kyle Miron, as well as her five great-grandchildren, Jacob Laird, Ashlyn and Dylan Hertz; Lily, Rigly, Aaro and Olive Robertson.

She was an accomplished bridge player, sewer, crocheter and tole painter. She enjoyed playing the piano, but her love and most amazing talent was for architecture. She designed the house she and Jim lived in for 47 years on Molt Road and the house for her brother Jack and his family on Pine Cove Road. Connie was very talented in so many ways, including being a businesswoman working on real estate transactions with husband Jim and her brother Jack and his wife Carol.

Connie had a special relationship with her in-laws, especially the sisters-in-law, Floyd and Delores Hertz; Tony and Marilyn Hertz; Stan and Carol Hertz, with whom they enjoyed many trips together; John and Sarah Hertz; Leo and Judy Hertz. She was particularly close with her sister-in-law Carol Ramirez, and had a loving relationship with her nieces Sandi (Doug) Fuller and Christine (Robert) Arensberg.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Hiram and Velma Ramirez; and her grandson, Aaron Robertson.

A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 2055 Woody Drive. Reception to follow. Interment will be held in Rockvale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Church of Billings Capital Campaign or the Alzheimer's Association - Montana Chapter.