O'Donald "Don" Simonson

O'Donald "Don" Simonson, 95, Rosholt, SD, passed away Monday, January 8, 2018, at Coteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton, SD.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 13, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethania Lutheran Church in Rosholt with Rev. Nancy Quatier officiating.  The organist will be Lana Sand and vocalists will be Don's children.

Burial will be in the Bethania Cemetery, Rosholt.  Pallbearers will be Don's grandsons.

Visitation will be Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at Bethania Lutheran Church and will continue Saturday one hour prior to the service.

O'Donald Winston Simonson was born June 10, 1922, in Wheaton MN, to Oswald and Kaia Emilia (Christiansen) Simonson. Don grew up on the shores of Mud Lake along with his brothers Goodrich, who passed in his teens, and Ethen (Blackie). Here his lifelong love and passion for hunting, fishing, birding, conservation, and archeology was formed.

Don rode horseback to a rural country school and later drove a Model T across Mud Lake to Wheaton, MN, each day. His high school years were spent at Morris Ag School in Morris, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Lutheran Church, rural Rosholt. On April 3, 1948, he married the love of his life, Maureen Peterson and together they created a family of ten children.

A man of many talents, his occupations were numerous! At age ten he started guiding hunters on the lake bottom. He worked as a farmer, managed the Rosholt Cooperative Creamery and Locker Plant, owned and operated Simonson Brothers Construction, worked on seining crews on area lakes, at Traverse County REA, and as a bouncer at the White Eagle Ballroom. He worked heavy construction most of his life, including five seasons on the Alyeska Pipeline and three years at Singing Sam's Goldmine, both in Alaska. He was a sheep shearer and wool buyer all his life and sheared 80 sheep on his 80 ^th birthday, and his last when he was 89.

Don had an intense drive to serve his church and community. He served on the Rosholt School Board and Bethania Lutheran Church Council, where he was president and oversaw the planning and construction of the new church. He was Sunday School superintendent as well as a Sunday School teacher. He was a member of the Search for Solutions Team, from which grew the Rosholt Community Center. He served as chairman of the fundraising and construction committees, making sure every detail of construction was correct. He was a member of the organizing board of directors for the Tri-State Ethanol Plant. He served for 15 years as a volunteer EMT for the Northeast Ambulance Service, was on the Harmon Township Board, and helped to organize and was a member of the Rosholt Area Threshermen's Association. He was a member of the Rosholt Lions Club. He was extremely devoted to any project he undertook and always gave it his very best.

Don was a lover of the arts and helped to start a community theater group which he loved performing in. One of his greatest joys was listening to his children sing or play music. He read and recited poetry to all his children and grandchildren from the time they were born and passed his passion for reading on to each of them, always eager to share the latest novel or article. When his eyesight failed, Maureen sat at his side and read to him.

He modeled to his children the importance of being a good neighbor, helping and teaching young friends learning to farm, shear sheep, or hunt. Most of all he taught us acceptance, of all people no matter their race, religion, or beliefs. He was a conservationist and adamant about recycling and taking care of the land, an amateur archeologist, collecting arrowheads, pieces of pottery, hammerheads, and even a pony tether. He counted, recorded, and reported birds for the Audubon Society. He was a natural historian and storyteller, with a wonderful memory and ability to recall detail, serving as a resource for the many people who came to him asking questions about their families, dates, and places.

Raising ten children was no easy task for Don and Maureen to share. They purchased and moved the family home to its present location, with Don standing on the roof and lifting powerlines so it could slowly make its way down Highway 127. With loving care he planted and nurtured every tree that surrounded the site as well as apple trees, rhubarb, asparagus, and strawberry patches, plums, cherries, and a huge garden. There was always a dog at his side, often a trained pig as a pet and a milk cow. Sheep and cows were raised over the years too. A family lake cabin on Lake Enemy Swim was the site of many, many holidays, parties, campfires, and shared meals. His intense love of hunting and fishing was passed down to his sons and grandsons. There are stories that never end of their countless adventures. He counted as his greatest blessing his large and loving family and always did whatever was possible to take care of them and enrich their lives.

Survivors include his wife, Edythe Maureen Simonson of Rosholt; children, Patricia (Steve) Casanova of Aberdeen, SD, Jean Halpin of Anchorage, AK, Kay Braun of Rosholt, Timothy (Linda) Simonson of Rosholt, Mary (Tom) Hale of Edmonds, WA, Annie (Poly) Simonson El Kadi of Rosholt, Peter (Maria) Simonson of Alabaster, AL, Edie (Bryan Metcalf) Nelson of Barney, ND, and Jonathon (Sunny) Simonson of Snellville, GA; grandchildren, Chad Casanova, Kaia Rohrer, Joshua Braun, Sarah Braun Lovold, Brittany Braun, Eli Halpin, Kate Halpin, Jarrett Mattson, Sam Mattson, Nick Pacatte, Julie Anderson, William El Kadi, Dulce Canales, Winston Hatch Simonson, Emily Nelson, Laura Nelson, Becca Klemick, Terrance Simonson, Gustav Simonson, and Joe Carlin; great-grandchildren, Tehya Braun, Issac Casanova, Ben Casanova, Emma Casanova, Joey Anderson, Stefan Canales, Sophia Canales, Brynlee Klemick, Lainey Klemick, Megan Braun, Anna Braun, Kaylee Nelson, Easton Nelson, Joe Rohrer, and Riley Rohrer.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Oswald and Emilie Simonson; son, Michael Simonson; and brothers, Goodrich Simonson and Ethen Simonson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Heifer Project or the Northeast Ambulance Service.