Mildred Simonson
Mildred “Billie” Simonson, 93, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Portland, Ore., with family by her side.
Mildred, or Billie as she was affectionately called her entire life, was born on Sept. 8, 1930, to Ludvik and Anne Mork on her family’s homestead outside of Arnegard, N.D. As the youngest child in a close-knit family, Billie developed a close bond with her elder brother and each of her sisters, which she enjoyed for the duration of her life.
After graduating from Watford City High School, Billie attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., for a year before moving to Portland, Ore., to attend Emanuel Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated in 1952, specializing in obstetrics nursing until she herself became a mother.
It was in Portland where she was reintroduced to Alvin Simonson, also a transplant from Watford City, N.D., area, through their sisters, Evelyn and Bernice. They became engaged on Christmas Eve of 1954, and later married at Central Lutheran Church in Portland on Nov. 11, 1955, during a surprise snowstorm. Billie and Al had two daughters, Linda and Julie, and were happily married for 65 years.
Every summer, Billie and Al would take the girls on an annual visit to North Dakota to spend time with their family who remained back there, and share the farm life that they had grown up on and loved; and once Al retired, they would make the trip back twice a year, for planting and harvesting. Many beautiful memories were created during these summers that their daughters carry with them to this day.
Billie’s most cherished role was that as wife and mother (and later grandmother and great-grandmother). And no one gave her greater joy than her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandsons. She always made time for them, and they never left the room without feeling her affection and warmth.
If you ever had the good fortune of visiting Billie, you knew she always had a spread of homemade baked goods and a fresh pot of coffee ready to serve. Some of her granddaughters’ fondest memories are of learning to make lefse and coffee cake, and getting to enjoy her peach sauce, pear sauce, or a warm serving of her special rice.
Billie also loved to crochet, listen to classical music, and had been a huge fan of the Portland Trail Blazers since their start in Portland, often listening to the games in her later years.
Billie was preceded in death by her husband, Al; her parents; her brothers, Arnold and Ludvik; and sisters, Marwyll, Evelyn, Lila and Solveig.
Billie is survived by her daughters, Linda (Greg) Mirecki and Julie (John) Kowitz; granddaughters, Kayla (Kyle) Kilpatrick, Lauren (Tyler) Dean, Kendall (Joseph) DiGiovanni, Margaret (Frank) Kowitz, and Madison Kowitz; and two great-grandsons, Noah and Carter Kilpatrick.
Graveside Services are Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the Cherry Cemetery in Arnegard, N.D., with Pastor Matt Rolfson officiating. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Watford City, N.D., is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.
Remembrances may be made to: Meals on Wheels People, PO Box 19477, Portland, OR 97280-0477, or The Salvation Army Cascade, Portland Metro Donation Processing Center, PO Box 60118, City of Industry, CA 91716-0118.