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Kevin S. Simonson Obituary – 11/10/2019


Kevin Sherman Simonson, age 61, of Glencoe, died Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, at GlenFields Living With Care, after a 28-month battle with a cancerous brain tumor.

There will be a visitation Friday, Nov. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Glencoe, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m.

A Celebration of Life service will take place Saturday, Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Glencoe, with visitation one hour prior to the service.

There will also be a memorial service Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. at Evanger Lutheran, his home church, near Sargeant, MN; with visitation one hour prior to that service. Inurnment will follow at the church cemetery.

Kevin loved his Panthers; please feel free to wear purple or black or Glencoe-Silver Lake team apparel to the visitation and/or the Celebration of Life service.

Memorials are encouraged to Christ Lutheran Church, Evanger Lutheran, The Relay for Life, or to the donor’s choice.

Arrangements are with Johnson-McBride Funeral Chapel in Glencoe.

Kevin was born Aug. 2, 1958, in Rapid City, SD, to Beverly (Gieser) and Sherman Simonson. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church at Rapid City Aug. 23, 1958; and confirmed at Evanger Lutheran Church near Sargeant, MN, May 6, 1973.

Kevin graduated from Hayfield High School in 1976, and graduated from the University of Minnesota, Crookston in 1979.

He worked as a sports reporter for the Hayfield Herald, and was a reporter for the Guillotine (a wrestling magazine).

Kevin and his wife, Linda, owned and published The Hancock Record at Hancock, MN.

Since 1987, Kevin managed Hardees and Burger King restaurants in Minnesota and South Dakota. He was named “Manager of the Year” for them several times.

Kevin was inducted into the Dave Erickson Wrestling Hall of Fame at Hayfield, and Wrestling Fan of the Year for Hayfield, Park Rapids, Lester Prairie, and at Glencoe/Silver Lake. He was also named Section Assistant Coach of the Year by the MN Wrestling Coaches Association in 2019.

Kevin married Linda Moon Oct. 22, 1983, at Hayfield. They began hosting foreign exchange students in 1986, and over the years, they shared their home with 19 young men from around the world. Kevin and Linda loved to travel to Mexico and Hawaii, and visited numerous students in Brazil and Germany.

An avid sports fan, Kevin followed the local high school teams, wherever they lived, in addition to the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and Gophers. He kept “the book” for many, many wrestling meets, and did “stats” for the high school football teams.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Linda; parents Beverly and Sherman Simonson; sister Lynn (Tom) Meyer and children Ryker and Syrena; brother Shawn (Tami) Simonson and children Zach and Noah; aunt ReNeta LaBarron; uncle Richard Gieser; and in-laws Betty and Frank Moon, Deb and Len Oelkers, Wendy and Scott Moon, plus Kay and Jeff Moon.

He is further survived by nieces and nephews, Bryan and Jen Oelkers (children Claire, Maya and Isaac), Brent and Kristine Oelkers (children Eric and Patrick), Brandon and Sarah Oelkers (son Emmett), Braeden Oelkers, Jenna Moon, Jordan and Zoe Moon, Zac Moon and fiancée Drea Griffith, Tyler Moon and fiancée Amy Greene, and community friends.

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