obituary
  

Altoona–Marjorie L. Simonson, age 80, of the Des Moines area, passed away on December 23, 2010, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at Lutheran Church of the Cross, in Altoona. Pastor Chris Leonard officiated. Hamilton's Funeral was in charge of the arrangements.

She was the daughter of Lyman and Arlene George who were farming in the Laurens area when she was born on February 11,1930. Then the family farmed southwest of Rolfe, where Marjorie was a member of the RHS class of 1947. She married Lowell Simonson on November 16, 1946. She retired in 1995 from On With Life as a dietary supervisor.

Marjorie was a member of Lutheran Church of the Cross. She enjoyed reading, watching sports on television and playing cards. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and friends. She treasured her children grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Marjorie is survived by her children: Virginia (Glen) Keeling of Des Moines, Kenneth (Ginger) Simonson of Yorba Linda, California, Nadine Goodman of Bondurant, and Darrel (Barbara) Simonson of Washington, Iowa. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren as well as her sisters: Lorene Gustafson of Spirit Lake, Bertha Wiseman of Mt. Pleasant, and Norma Groenwold of Rushmore, Minnesota; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Elmer; granddaughter, Angela Rhoads; son-in-law, Jeff Goodman; sister, Ada Colee; and her brother, Bill George.

Marjorie was born in 1930 when her parents, Lyman and Arlene George, began farming in the Laurens area. Then they moved to the Rolfe area where they farmed southwest of town in the 1940s and 1950s. Lyman and Arlene had six children. Back left to right: Norma Jean, Willard, Lorene, and Bertha Ellen. Front left to right: Ada Marie, Arlene, Lyman, and Marjorie. Photo circa 1948 from the collection of Marjorie's niece, Marcia Smith of Minnesota.

We have posted a large portion of an interview with Marjorie. She begins by telling about the farm where she grew up southwest of Rolfe. Four short pieces have already been part of the RHS Web site audio gallery.

1948 1995 Marjorie George Simonson RHS class of 1947   section 1 (length: 13:28) section 2 (length: 12:48) section 3 (length: 11:05) obituary Interviewed at her home in Des Moines in 1996 by Helen Gunderson for Helen's documentary project about the road she grew up on southwest of Rolfe.

The farm where Marjorie lived with her parents and siblings in the 1940s. It is 2 1/2 miles southwest of Rolfe on the south side of Section 7 of Garfield Township. (Photo circa 1950 from the archives of Marjorie's family.)

The same farm in the 1990s, owned and operated by Gary and Kathy Dahl and family. (Photographed by Helen Gunderson.)