Alvin Simonson
Alvin Clinton Simonson was born on Feb. 7, 1930, to Anton and Malla (Winden) Simonson on a farm west of Watford City, N.D. He was the youngest of seven children and grew up during the Great Depression.
Al graduated from Watford City High School in 1948. After that he attended Jamestown College for one year and then Minot State Teachers College part of the next year, until he was drafted and then enlisted in the Navy. He served honorably as an electrical technician in the Navy until 1955.
After the Navy, he was hired by RCA Service Company where he worked for 35 years until he retired at the age of 60.
Al married Mildred (Billie) Mork on Nov. 11, 1955, at Central Lutheran Church in Portland, Ore., during a surprise snow storm. They had two daughters, Linda and Julie, and were happily married for 65 years.
In addition to God, his family was his top priority. He made sure that his wife, children and grandchildren always felt loved and well cared for.
Even though they lived in Portland, Al and Billie had a deep love for North Dakota and the farm life they grew up on. They would travel back yearly to visit, and once Al retired, they went back twice a year for planting and harvest.
Al was very talented in that he could build and repair just about anything-he loved the challenge. He spent a lot of time at the church working on countless projects with his friends Ken and Wally. Besides the church, people often called to have him repair their TV, dryer, stove, etc. and he was happy to do this free of charge, of course.
Al was a good and humble man who valued the simple things in life. His wife, daughters and granddaughters considered him the best husband, dad and grandpa there could ever be.
He is survived by his wife, Billie; daughters, Linda (Greg) Mirecki and Julie (John) Kowitz; and granddaughters, Kayla (Kyle) Kilpatrick, Lauren Mirecki, Kendall Kowitz, Margaret Kowitz and Madison Kowitz; and one great-grandson, Noah Kilpatrick, who was born just three days before Al’s death.
Al’s service was held at Zeller Chapel of the Roses on Jan. 5, 2021, with a private interment with military honors at Cherry Cemetery in Arnegard, N.D.
Remembrances can be made to Central Lutheran Church.