Donald Simonson

Donald V. Simonson, age 86, of McIntosh, MN and formerly of Fosston, MN, passed away on Wednesday (June 1st) at First Care Living Center in Fosston. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 6th at 11:00 AM at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston with Rev. John Dalen officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 PM with a prayer service at 5:00 PM at Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston, and there will also be reviewal for one hour before the funeral at the church. Interment will be at Kingo Lutheran Cemetery in Fosston, and the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements.Donald Vern Simonson was born December 19, 1924 to Sam and Ruth (Dahl) Simonson in Napoleon, ND. A year after he was born, his family moved to Minnewaukan, ND where he grew up and attended school. Later, his family moved to McIntosh, MN.Don served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945. After the war, he returned to McIntosh and worked various jobs.On August 31, 1947 Don was united in marriage to Mary Ann Hedman. They made their home in Grand Forks for a short time, and both worked for Eddy's Bakery. They moved back to McIntosh and Don worked nine years as a mechanic at Mac Motors. In 1957, he went into partnership at Mac Motors with Bill Henney. In 1963, Don and Bill purchased the Ford Garage in Fosston, MN and shortly thereafter Mac Motors was destroyed by fire, so they ran the Ford Garage in Fosston together. In 1968, Don moved his family from McIntosh to Fosston and in 1969 a new Ford Garage was built along Hwy 2 on the east edge of Fosston. Don retired from the garage in 1983 and in 1984 began working for the Fosston Public High School. He also worked for the City of Fosston. In the fall of 2009, Don and Mary Ann moved to Poplar Meadows in McIntosh.He was a past Fire Chief in McIntosh, a member of the McIntosh VFW and Fosston American Legion and a member at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston.Don enjoyed his family, woodworking, listening to and attending local sporting events especially the Winger Legion Baseball Team and the Win-E-Mac and Fosston High School Teams, and attending army reunions.On Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Don passed away at First Care Living Center in Fosston at the age of 86 years.He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Ann of McIntosh; sons, Mark (Sue Norquist) Simonson and Dean Simonson all of Fosston; daughters, Sharon (Chuck) Odegaard of Thief River Falls, MN and Marilyn (Dale) Branstner of Erskine, MN; ten grandchildren, Brandy, Chris, Adam, Lisa, Sherry, Kristen, Ross, Malaka, Kevin and Shannon; 13 great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Shirley Simonson of Woodbury, MN, Ellen Burslie of McIntosh and Ruth Hedman of Lake Park, MN; brother-in-law, Don Hedman of St. Paul, MN; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Joey Simonson; daughter-in-law, Pam Simonson; and brothers, Dale and Duane.Blessed be his memory