Russell
Simmons, 80
Roseau
- Russell Simmons, 80, died on Thursday,
September 11, 2003 at the Sheltering Oaks Manor in
Roseau.
Funeral
services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday,
September 20 at the Riverside Church in Wannaska.
Interment will be in Linsell Township Cemetery.
Visitation will be held for one hour prior to
services at the church.
Russell
Simmons was born on November 30, 1922 in Grafton,
N.D., the son of Ray and Bessie (Monson) Simmons.
He resided in Grafton until he was six years old
and moved to Randeen Ridge, south of Wannaska,
where he attended a country school.
On
January 18, 1948, he married Mildred Mortensen in
Wannaska. He fought in World War II and the South
Pacific, for which he was awarded two Purple
Hearts. Russell bought his parents' homestead and
ran Simmons Grocery in Wannaska from 1948 until
1965. He and Mildred spent winters in Arizona for
10 years. They also enjoyed traveling. From 1965 to
1986, Russell worked for the Minnesota State Parks
at Lake Shetak State Park, McCarthy Beach in
Chisolm, BearHead Lake in Ely and Lake Bemidji
State Park.
Russell
enjoyed deer hunting, reading and traveling. Over
his retirement, he lived on the Randeen Ridge,
spending much time watching the deer.
Survivors
include his wife, Mildred; children, Sheryl
(Richard) Gudvangen of Brookings, S.D., Jerry
Simmons of San Diego, Calif., and Milly (Randy)
Pracher of Roseau; four grandchildren; brothers,
Roger (Edla) of Bloomington and Ron (Viola) of
Roseau; sisters, Gloria (Bud) Swanson of Warroad
and Betty (Bob) Larson of Grand Rapids; two
sisters-in-law, Doris and Joan Simmons of Roseau;
and 27 nieces and nephews.
Russell
was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Scott;
and two brothers, Robert "Bob" of Gatzke and
Richard "Dick" of Roseau.
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