Maurice Glen Simonson, 83
Maurice Glen Simonson, 83, passed away at 10:10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2004, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.
He was born in Broken Bow, Neb., and moved with his family to St. Ignatius, where he enjoyed playing basketball in high school.
He married Patricia Hays (now deceased). His four children of that marriage were Gail Witzel of Colorado Springs, Colo., with her children, Rick, Patti, Wendy, Jerry, Charles and Kathy; Judy Opie (now deceased) with her sons, Jeff and Robert; son, Terry and wife, Alena, of Katy, Texas, with his daughters, Tracy, Erica and Katelyn; son, Ted and wife, Thelma, of Rapid City, S.D., and his sons, Shane, Scott and Stephen.
Maurice entered the Army in 1944 and served in the South Pacific until 1946. On his return to Montana he married Mary (Hovey) Young, mother of JeAnna (Peggy J) Wisher and husband, John, of Columbia Falls, and their children, Paul, Jonna and Luke.
Maurice moved to Washington state in 1953 where he worked as a Teamster. His hobbies were hiking, hunting and fishing and he loved boating and water skiing.
In 1967, he married Gladys Jones (now deceased). He was "Big Daddy" to stepchildren Rex, Regina, and Reggie. He was acting grandpa to Regina's children, Cheryl, Angie and Jerry. He leaves a legacy of 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
In retirement he traveled with Sam's Motorhome Club, and in 2001, returned to Montana to live with his daughter, JeAnna, in Columbia Falls. In 2002, he went to Montana Veterans Home, where he lived and was cared for until the end.
He was preceded in death by brothers Galen, Russell, Harvey and Keith; and a sister, Ruth.
He is survived by a sister, Barbara Yandt, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls with Pastor Tim Bartholomew of Stillwater Lutheran Church officiating, followed by pot luck and celebration of Maurice's life at the Wisher home in Columbia Falls. He will be interred at Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius in the spring of 2005.
The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to the staff at Montana Veterans Home for their special care and attention to Maurice's needs and for helping him feel at home during his stay there.
Donations may be made, in lieu of flowers, to Olney-Bissell School Playground Fund c/o JeAnna Wisher.