Phyllis Anne (Billie) Simonson of Albany died at home April 17, surrounded by her family. She had been seriously ill since last summer. Her 80th birthday was on Easter Sunday 2010.
Billie was born April 4, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Edwin and A. Phyllis (Beauchaine) Leary. It was natural that she would pursue a career as a registered nurse, as helping others was her calling. Her mother and sister Pat were also nurses. Billie obtained a bachelor's degree in professional nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1953.
She met Gerald (Jerry) Simonson when both were students at the university. They were married Aug. 16, 1952, in Minnehaha Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. The Simonsons' family honored them at a 50th wedding anniversary celebration in the summer of 2002 in Corvallis.
Early in their marriage, the couple lived in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Iowa. They were more than five years at Ames, Iowa. There Jerry earned a doctorate in soil science from Iowa State University. Billie continued her career in public health and also as a hospital nurse wherever they lived and studied.
The Simonsons came to Oregon in 1961, and raised their young family in Corvallis. Jerry was a professor in the Department of Soil Science at Oregon State University for 32 years.
Over the years, Billie's volunteer work included the Altar Guild at Grace Lutheran Church, the Sigma Kappa Alumnae board, assisting with health screenings in Corvallis schools, Cub Scout den mother, and the American Red Cross. She also taught infant care to wives of foreign graduate students at OSU.
In 1983, Billie and Jerry moved to the countryside near Albany, where they built a home and planted an orchard, garden and many flowers, for Billie was a gifted gardener. She loved to preserve the harvest, and was a memorable cook.
Among her artistic talents were sewing, painting, furniture refinishing and stained glass art.
She had a warm and welcoming home. A vibrant and generous personality endeared her to family and friends. A sick friend would get chicken soup and a typed list of facts about the illness and what to do to get well. She took wonderful care of the people around her. In turn, she was lovingly cared for at home until she died. Billie dearly loved her five grandchildren.
The Simonson children recall traveling with their parents to many interesting parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Billie always loved her Dachshunds, who often went along.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, April 26, at Grace Lutheran Church, 435 N.W. 21st St., Corvallis. Pastor Wendell Hendershott will officiate. The committal will be held at Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum on Riverside Drive, Albany.
Survivors are Gerald, Billie's husband of 58 years; two sons, Scott of Albany and Tom of Alsea (wife Junia); daughter Annette Higinbotham of Albany (husband Alan); grandchildren Joel, Matthew and John Simonson and Katie and Sienna Higinbotham; sister Patricia (Sis) Jensen of Rogers, Minn.; brother Edwin (Buzz) Leary of Treasure Island, Fla.; and many special nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions can be made to Safehaven Animal Shelter, the United Service Organizations, or Lutheran Campus Ministries.
This memorial will be passed on only to her children Tom, Scott and Annette.
Billie was born April 4, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Edwin and A. Phyllis (Beauchaine) Leary. It was natural that she would pursue a career as a registered nurse, as helping others was her calling. Her mother and sister Pat were also nurses. Billie obtained a bachelor's degree in professional nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1953.
She met Gerald (Jerry) Simonson when both were students at the university. They were married Aug. 16, 1952, in Minnehaha Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. The Simonsons' family honored them at a 50th wedding anniversary celebration in the summer of 2002 in Corvallis.
Early in their marriage, the couple lived in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Iowa. They were more than five years at Ames, Iowa. There Jerry earned a doctorate in soil science from Iowa State University. Billie continued her career in public health and also as a hospital nurse wherever they lived and studied.
The Simonsons came to Oregon in 1961, and raised their young family in Corvallis. Jerry was a professor in the Department of Soil Science at Oregon State University for 32 years.
Over the years, Billie's volunteer work included the Altar Guild at Grace Lutheran Church, the Sigma Kappa Alumnae board, assisting with health screenings in Corvallis schools, Cub Scout den mother, and the American Red Cross. She also taught infant care to wives of foreign graduate students at OSU.
In 1983, Billie and Jerry moved to the countryside near Albany, where they built a home and planted an orchard, garden and many flowers, for Billie was a gifted gardener. She loved to preserve the harvest, and was a memorable cook.
Among her artistic talents were sewing, painting, furniture refinishing and stained glass art.
She had a warm and welcoming home. A vibrant and generous personality endeared her to family and friends. A sick friend would get chicken soup and a typed list of facts about the illness and what to do to get well. She took wonderful care of the people around her. In turn, she was lovingly cared for at home until she died. Billie dearly loved her five grandchildren.
The Simonson children recall traveling with their parents to many interesting parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Billie always loved her Dachshunds, who often went along.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, April 26, at Grace Lutheran Church, 435 N.W. 21st St., Corvallis. Pastor Wendell Hendershott will officiate. The committal will be held at Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum on Riverside Drive, Albany.
Survivors are Gerald, Billie's husband of 58 years; two sons, Scott of Albany and Tom of Alsea (wife Junia); daughter Annette Higinbotham of Albany (husband Alan); grandchildren Joel, Matthew and John Simonson and Katie and Sienna Higinbotham; sister Patricia (Sis) Jensen of Rogers, Minn.; brother Edwin (Buzz) Leary of Treasure Island, Fla.; and many special nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions can be made to Safehaven Animal Shelter, the United Service Organizations, or Lutheran Campus Ministries.
This memorial will be passed on only to her children Tom, Scott and Annette.
Phyllis Anne (Billie) Simonson of Albany died at home April 17, surrounded by her family. She had been seriously ill since last summer. Her 80th birthday was on Easter Sunday 2010.
Billie was born April 4, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Edwin and A. Phyllis (Beauchaine) Leary. It was natural that she would pursue a career as a registered nurse, as helping others was her calling. Her mother and sister Pat were also nurses. Billie obtained a bachelor's degree in professional nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1953.
She met Gerald (Jerry) Simonson when both were students at the university. They were married Aug. 16, 1952, in Minnehaha Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. The Simonsons' family honored them at a 50th wedding anniversary celebration in the summer of 2002 in Corvallis.
Early in their marriage, the couple lived in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Iowa. They were more than five years at Ames, Iowa. There Jerry earned a doctorate in soil science from Iowa State University. Billie continued her career in public health and also as a hospital nurse wherever they lived and studied.
The Simonsons came to Oregon in 1961, and raised their young family in Corvallis. Jerry was a professor in the Department of Soil Science at Oregon State University for 32 years.
Over the years, Billie's volunteer work included the Altar Guild at Grace Lutheran Church, the Sigma Kappa Alumnae board, assisting with health screenings in Corvallis schools, Cub Scout den mother, and the American Red Cross. She also taught infant care to wives of foreign graduate students at OSU.
In 1983, Billie and Jerry moved to the countryside near Albany, where they built a home and planted an orchard, garden and many flowers, for Billie was a gifted gardener. She loved to preserve the harvest, and was a memorable cook.
Among her artistic talents were sewing, painting, furniture refinishing and stained glass art.
She had a warm and welcoming home. A vibrant and generous personality endeared her to family and friends. A sick friend would get chicken soup and a typed list of facts about the illness and what to do to get well. She took wonderful care of the people around her. In turn, she was lovingly cared for at home until she died. Billie dearly loved her five grandchildren.
The Simonson children recall traveling with their parents to many interesting parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Billie always loved her Dachshunds, who often went along.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, April 26, at Grace Lutheran Church, 435 N.W. 21st St., Corvallis. Pastor Wendell Hendershott will officiate. The committal will be held at Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum on Riverside Drive, Albany.
Survivors are Gerald, Billie's husband of 58 years; two sons, Scott of Albany and Tom of Alsea (wife Junia); daughter Annette Higinbotham of Albany (husband Alan); grandchildren Joel, Matthew and John Simonson and Katie and Sienna Higinbotham; sister Patricia (Sis) Jensen of Rogers, Minn.; brother Edwin (Buzz) Leary of Treasure Island, Fla.; and many special nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions can be made to Safehaven Animal Shelter, the United Service Organizations, or Lutheran Campus Ministries.
This memorial will be passed on only to her children Tom, Scott and Annette.
Billie was born April 4, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Edwin and A. Phyllis (Beauchaine) Leary. It was natural that she would pursue a career as a registered nurse, as helping others was her calling. Her mother and sister Pat were also nurses. Billie obtained a bachelor's degree in professional nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1953.
She met Gerald (Jerry) Simonson when both were students at the university. They were married Aug. 16, 1952, in Minnehaha Lutheran Church, Minneapolis. The Simonsons' family honored them at a 50th wedding anniversary celebration in the summer of 2002 in Corvallis.
Early in their marriage, the couple lived in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Iowa. They were more than five years at Ames, Iowa. There Jerry earned a doctorate in soil science from Iowa State University. Billie continued her career in public health and also as a hospital nurse wherever they lived and studied.
The Simonsons came to Oregon in 1961, and raised their young family in Corvallis. Jerry was a professor in the Department of Soil Science at Oregon State University for 32 years.
Over the years, Billie's volunteer work included the Altar Guild at Grace Lutheran Church, the Sigma Kappa Alumnae board, assisting with health screenings in Corvallis schools, Cub Scout den mother, and the American Red Cross. She also taught infant care to wives of foreign graduate students at OSU.
In 1983, Billie and Jerry moved to the countryside near Albany, where they built a home and planted an orchard, garden and many flowers, for Billie was a gifted gardener. She loved to preserve the harvest, and was a memorable cook.
Among her artistic talents were sewing, painting, furniture refinishing and stained glass art.
She had a warm and welcoming home. A vibrant and generous personality endeared her to family and friends. A sick friend would get chicken soup and a typed list of facts about the illness and what to do to get well. She took wonderful care of the people around her. In turn, she was lovingly cared for at home until she died. Billie dearly loved her five grandchildren.
The Simonson children recall traveling with their parents to many interesting parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Billie always loved her Dachshunds, who often went along.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, April 26, at Grace Lutheran Church, 435 N.W. 21st St., Corvallis. Pastor Wendell Hendershott will officiate. The committal will be held at Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum on Riverside Drive, Albany.
Survivors are Gerald, Billie's husband of 58 years; two sons, Scott of Albany and Tom of Alsea (wife Junia); daughter Annette Higinbotham of Albany (husband Alan); grandchildren Joel, Matthew and John Simonson and Katie and Sienna Higinbotham; sister Patricia (Sis) Jensen of Rogers, Minn.; brother Edwin (Buzz) Leary of Treasure Island, Fla.; and many special nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions can be made to Safehaven Animal Shelter, the United Service Organizations, or Lutheran Campus Ministries.
This memorial will be passed on only to her children Tom, Scott and Annette.
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