Leona Katherine Simenson, 93, of Ontario passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at the Bethel Home in Viroqua.
She was born in the town of Webster, Vernon County, on April 11, 1923, to Bowman and Gunda (Kirking) Larson. She was baptized May 26, 1923, and confirmed June 12, 1938, by Rev. J.A. Holum in Westby Coon Prairie Church. She attended school at Westby until fifth grade, when she went to Bloomingdale grade school, and graduated from Westby High School in 1941.
In 1938, she attended Luther Bible Camp in Chetek, Wis., with her cousin Gen Miller and friend Ruth Lindvig. On Feb. 21, 1942, she married Carmen Simenson at the Coon Prairie parsonage in Westby; he preceded her in death Nov. 6, 1990. They farmed near Bloomingdale until March 1944, when they moved to a farm on Little Ridge in Whitestown, near Ontario. They became members of Brush Creek Lutheran Church, where she was an active member of WELCA. She continued to live on the farm until 2008, when she moved to Maplewood Terrace, where she lived until 2012, when she became a resident of Bethel Home.
In 1955, Leona helped reorganize Brush Creek Sunday School with Edith Torgerson and taught for 16 years. She was also a 4-H leader and active in the Ontario Senior Citizens and 131 Homemakers Club. She enjoyed doing the family genealogy. She especially loved keeping her cookie jar full for her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Calvin (Lilibeth) Simenson of Dodgeville, Wis., Gwen (Charles) Hatfield of La Farge and Julie (Tom) Nelson of Muscoda, Wis.; her grandchildren, David (Jill) Eness, John (Carolyn) Eness, Dena (Nevin) Hillegass, Kristine (Aaron) Palmer, Timothy Knute (Sara) Eness, Rebecca (Matthew) Marshall, Melissa (Darrick) Luck, Christopher (Anne) Hatfield, Craig (Hannah) Simenson, Neal (Joyel) Simenson and Janine Simenson; 25 great-grandchildren; three special nieces, Aneda Mae Onshus, Diane Schreier and Luann Dumdie; and a nephew, Brian Larson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Alida Johnson and Gertrude Larson; a brother, Elbin Larson; a sister-in-law, Alva Larson; a brother-in-law, Engvald Johnson; a niece, Beverly LaVeen; and two nephews, Michael and Monte Onshus.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Brush Creek Lutheran Church near Ontario. Pastor Gary Daines will officiate. Burial will follow in the Brush Creek Cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation Monday, Dec. 19, from 4–6 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Ontario. Family and friends are also invited for visitation on Tuesday from 12 p.m. until the time of service at the church. Memorials may be given to Brush Creek Lutheran Church in Leona’s memory.
Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
