Laura Virginia Hammond Simonson, 89, a longtime resident of Cherry County, passed away Nov. 15, 2012, at Good Samaritan Village, in Hastings.
Laura was born July 28, 1923, in Mullen, to Elmer and Allie (Pearl) Hammond. Laura was the third of four children and was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, Gladys Howard, Eva Canida Wallace and Jack Hammond. Laura was raised on her parents’ homestead in the southwest corner of Hooker County and walked one-half mile each way to school through the eighth grade before attending Mullen High School.
Laura married Bill Simonson in Alliance, on Nov. 3, 1941. Together, they raised six children on the ranch north of Mullen in Cherry County. Her husband Bill preceded her in death in 1986, and one son, Russell, in 1979, as well as three infant granddaughters.
For many years, Laura raised a huge garden and many chickens. She loved finding sand cherries on the hillside and her jelly was a gift to her friends, family and grandchildren many times over. Laura’s greatest love was her family, the ranch and her cows. She was known for her good cooking, especially her fresh bread, caramel rolls, mashed potatoes, fried chicken and rare roast beef. No one ever left her home hungry nor did she ever leave home without taking food wherever she went.
Laura was a member of Winifred Chapter #292 Order of the Eastern Star for more than 50 years and served in many capacities. She joined the Sunshine Chapter #261 in 2007 and proudly kept every receipt from both chapters and a Past Worthy Matron certificate dating back to 1963 and 1974.
For several years she worked at the drugstore in Mullen and the school lunch program while the youngest children went to school in town. After Bill died, she stayed on the ranch until 2005 when she moved to an apartment and later assisted living in North Platte. In December of 2009, Laura’s health deteriorated and she moved to a nursing home, Good Samaritan Village, in Hastings.
Laura is survived by five of her children, LeRoy Simonson of North Platte, Karen (Butch) Freeze, of Hershey, Janice (Butch) Barnason, of Hastings, John Simonson, of Mullen and Harlan (Sharon) Simonson, of Ainsworth; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Services are at 10:30 a.m., MST, on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the United Methodist Church in Mullen. Burial will be at Cedarview Cemetery in Mullen. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., MST , Monday, Nov. 19, at Mullen Funeral Home. The family will be present to receive friends.
Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice, Mullen Rest Home, Good Samaritan Village or Eastern Star Lodge #261 of Thedford.