EDNA M. SIMON

Edna M. Simon, 77 of Devils Lake formerly of Starkweather, ND went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 following a lengthy battle with cancer. Her family and friends were by her side. Funeral Services for Edna will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at River of Life Assembly of God Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Kevin Anderson will officiate and burial will be in the Storlie Cemetery, rural Hampden, ND. Music will be provided by the members of Special Delivery, Chuck Damschen, Cathy Anfinson and Gabrielle Damschen; Congregational Hymns with Kathy Gewont as pianist. Serving as Pallbearers will be Edna’s sons-in-law, Greg Leighninger, Kelly Halverson, Donald Williams and friends Wayne Simon, Steve Pederson and Ulysses Jones. Edna Mary (Erickson) Simon was born on August 29, 1936, to Ed and Mary Julianne(Vermeulen) Erickson. She was raised in Rolla, ND and graduated from Rolla Public School. She then went to Jamestown College for one year and transferred to Minot State College. While there she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double in Elementary and Business Education. Edna taught 4th grade in Lakota and Starkweather; later teaching Business Education for 17 years in Starkweather. She retired after 37 years following a heart attack. While teaching in Lakota, Edna met Ben R. Simon whom she married on June 4, 1961 in the Presbyterian Church in Rolla. They made their home on a farm in Starkweather. The couple was blessed with three daughters; twins, Laurie Ann (Greg) Leighninger of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Lisa Ray (Kelly) Halverson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Barbra Kae (Donald) Williams also of Albuquerque. Edna and Ben moved into Devils Lake in 2007. Music was always a huge part in Edna’s life whether it was high school, college, or in the churches she attended. She sang in plays, choirs, weddings, funerals and just for fun. She regularly sang solos in the Methodist Church in Starkweather and in the Assembly of God Church in Cando, ND. She was active in the River of Life Church also where worship was a passion. Edna is survived by her daughters, their children Joshua, Benjamin, Laine and Bryce; one sister, Shirley Gores of Devils Lake; one brother, Leo Erickson of Damen, Texas and sister-in-law, Gertrude M. Anda of Fargo, ND; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Ben in 2008; sisters, Eleanor Michlink, Bessie Renz, Iola Sundstrom; brothers, Fred, Glenn and William (killed in World War II) Erickson. Memorials may be directed to your local Relay for Life Cancer Drive or the American Heart Association.