Eunice Ruth Simonson

Eunice (Neve) Simonson, 87, died October 31, 2021. Eunice was born in Walters, Minnesota on April 20, 1934 to George and Frieda Neve.  After graduating from Kiester High School, Eunice worked for Interstate Power Company. She graduated from Mankato State University in 1959 and taught elementary school in Fairmont and Wayzata.  Eunice married Al Simonson in 1961.  After raising Tony, Marnie, and Jeni, Eunice earned ESL licensure from Hamline University and taught ESL in Mankato Public Schools from 1979 to 1996.  She took sabbatical leave in 1994, and at age 60, traveled to southeast Asia by herself and taught English in Phanat Nikhom, Thailand. She also had brief teaching opportunities in Vietnam, China, and Japan.  She was an adventurer who thoroughly enjoyed meeting people from other cultures.

Eunice loved the outdoors.  She and Al honeymooned in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and later brought their children to the BWCA for wilderness trips.  The family traveled to many of the nation's National Parks where they tent-camped and hiked every trail Eunice could find. In their retirement, Eunice and Al spent a summer working and hiking in Yosemite National Park, where Eunice climbed Half Dome. Eunice loved Minnesota winters and cross-country skiing; she and Al skied the Mora Vasaloppet in 1996. Eunice loved riding her bicycle, and until her death could often be found pedaling the bike trails of Mankato.  She and Al rode the TRAM and River Ramble multiple times.  At age 86, Eunice discovered pickleball.  She loved the game and especially enjoyed her group of pickleball ladies.

 Eunice was a voracious reader who looked forward to book club discussions. Eunice was a gardener with a very green thumb.  Her garden produced enormous carrots, cabbage, and broccoli, and her friends and neighbors often came over to pull rhubarb from her patch.  Her children and grandchildren loved her rhubarb desserts.  Al and Eunice were active members of Grace Lutheran Church where they made many life-long friends.

Eunice was preceded in death by her husband, Al. She is survived by her sisters, Phyllis and Glennyce; her children, Tony (Rita) Simonson, Marnie (Tom) Knapp, and Jeni (Mark) Graves. She has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  She will be dearly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 12 at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Dr., in North Mankato, followed by light refreshments. Out of respect for other guests, the family encourages but does not require that you wear a mask. Please, no condolence cards.  If you wish to make a donation in Eunice's honor, please send it to PBS, Echo Food Shelf, or The Nature Conservancy.