Obituary of Ruth Simonsen

Ruth Simonsen, age 96 of Menno passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at the Freeman Regional Health Services, Freeman. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Friday, March 27, 2015 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Menno, with Rev. David Ellis officiating. Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery, Menno, SD. Visitations will be 4 to 7 PM, Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, and then 5 to 8 PM, Thursday, March 26, 2015 at the Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, and then one hour prior to the service at the church. Ruth was born to Joseph and Magdelena (Pfeifle) Stern on February 20, 1919 in rural Clayton, SD. She attended country school through the 8th grade. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on June 18, 1933 at Grace Lutheran Church by Pastor Heuer. She moved to Menno with her parents. Ruth married Clarence Simonsen on August 6, 1939 at Peace Lutheran Church, Menno and to this union, two children were born, Lonnie and Roger. Clarence and Ruth operated Simonsen Plumbing & Heating until 1980 when they retired. Ruth served as Treasurer for the American Legion Auxiliary, Treasurer for the Church Ladies Aid and was Secretary for their bowling league in Yankton. Ruth loved to bowl and dance. Ruth and Clarence were inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame for their many years of bowling. Ruth is survived by her husband, Clarence of Menno, SD; children, Lonnie (Kenneth) Remington of Yankton, SD and Roger (Jeanie) Simonsen of Menno, SD; grandchildren, Jan (Dan) Putnam, Scott (Shirlene) Simonsen and Timothy (Janel) Simonsen; great-grandchildren: Christopher Putnam, Nicole Putnam, Kendra Simonsen, Nicholas Simonsen and Alyssa Simonsen, great-great-grandchildren, Aubrey Putnam, Ty Nichols and Chason Simonsen; sisters, Luella Handel of Menno, SD and Celia Bradley of Rapid City, SD and brother, Gillas (Garnet) Stern of Sioux Falls, SD and nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Clifford Stern his wife, Jimmy, sister, Elva Reiser and her husband, Marvin, infant sister, Arlanda Stern, brothers-in-law, Rueben Nusz, Aaron Handel and Allan Bradley.