Services for Dennis Michael Simonson
Dennis Simonson, age 65, of rural Fosston, MN, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 27th, on his farm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2nd, at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Paul Magelssen officiating. Interment will be in Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Tuesday, August 1st, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Military honors will be provided by the National Guard Honors Team and arrangements are with the Carlin Funeral Home of Fosston. Messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinfuneral.com.
Dennis Michael Simonson was born on June 3, 1952 in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Melvin and Palma Walstad Simonson. Dennis moved to the home farm in Heier Township with his family when he was two years old. Dennis was baptized at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, McIntosh and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church, Fosston. Dennis graduated from Fosston High School in 1970 and continued his education studying crop production at the University of Minnesota Crookston, graduating with distinction in June 1972. While a student at UMC, Dennis earned top honors in an International Collegiate Crops Judging contest held in Chicago, IL. Dennis scored 590 out of a possible 600 points. Dennis was drafted into the United States Army in February 1973 completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Dennis was stationed in Germany where he met the love of his life and future wife, Margot Vogt. In January 1975 Dennis was released from active duty and returned to the States, followed by Margot in April 1975. Dennis and Margot were married at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston on May 24, 1975. Dennis earned the rank of SP4 and was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard on October 25, 1978.
In June 1976 Dennis was blessed with the birth of his son Mark Dennis, followed by a daughter Marcella Maria in December 1979. Farming was in Dennis’ blood as he farmed with his Father Melvin in Heier Township from a very young age. He had a feeder pig operation which farrowed approx. 220 sows twice a year selling approx. 3,000 forty lb pigs each year until his Dad retired from dairy cattle in 1992 when Dennis took over the dairy operation and continued until 2008. He had beef cattle until Fall of 2016 when he semi-retired but continued to raise small grains. He was named Mahnomen County King Agassiz in July 1985, was a founding member of the Pine to Prairie Pork Producers Assn, Served as Vice President and Director of Minnesota Pork Producers Assn, Member of and Past President of the Fosston Shipping Assn, Minnesota Farm Bureau, & Fosston Legion Drill Squad. Dennis received the Mahnomen County Soil and Water Conservation Farm of the Year July 1988 and various Land o Lakes awards & Pork Production awards.
Everything Dennis’ hands touched he loved: his family, crops, & animals, especially his many dogs over the years. Dennis was a man of few words but he had a big heart.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Margot, of Fosston; two children, Mark (Brook) Simonson of McIntosh, MN, and Marcella Simonson of Bemidji, MN; 7 grandchildren, Austin, Logan, Olivia, and Zachary Simonson, Noah Roragen, Mcintosh, Chase Pierce, and Michael Simonson, Bemidji; his mother, Palma “Polly” Simonson of Fosston; aunt, Aggie Gaetz of Fosston; uncle Hilmer (Marion) Simonson of Richfield, MN; brother-in-law, Helmut Vogt of Germany; sister-in-law, Brigitte Lotz (Juergen Magold) of Germany; nieces Julia Roth (Christiane), Katharina Lotz and nephews Oliver (Tanja) Lotz, Philipp (Janina) Lotz and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father; grandparents; infant daughter, Michelle; and his mother and father-in-law, Wilhelm and Maria Vogt.
Active Pallbearers: Larry Handyside, Josh Handyside, Paul Jodock, Greg Bruce, Mark Hagen, Grant Skarsten, Nathan Sweep, Lloyd Skarsten, Warren Ohren, Brian Zachariason & Wayne Zachariason
Honorary Pallbears Dennis’ Grandchildren: Austin Simonson, Logan Simonson, Olivia Simonson, Zachary Simonson, Noah Roragen, Chase Pierce, Michael Simonson
