Bethany Simon

1934 - 2023

BETHANY (BETTE) NADINE SIMON Bethany (Bette) Nadine Simon née Miller passed away September 11, 2023 at Good Samaritan nursing home in International Falls with her children by her side. She was born February 27, 1934 the only child to J. Adolph and Marie Miller in Iowa City, Iowa. She married Orin Simon on August 10, 1963 and had three children, David (Lisa) Simon, Jeanne (Steve) Bolstad, and Joel Simon. She has seven grandchildren, Andrea (Jake) Simon, Keith Simon, Cody Bolstad, Joshua Simon, Claire (Zachary) Manka, Alex (Katie) Bolstad, and Zach (Emily) Simon; and six great-grandchildren, William Rick, Annalynn Rick, Noelle Manka, Brooks Manka, Oden Simon, and baby-on-the-way Bolstad. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 57 years. Her first few years were spent on a farm near Oasis, Iowa before moving to Plato, Iowa where she started her education in a one-room country school. She said that as a child "my job was to practice [piano] and to be a kid...and I did practice more than the average because that was my playmate." She attended West Branch school from third through ninth grades, then bounced to several schools (Iowa City High School, then University High School in Eugene Oregon) before graduating from the second class at Willamette High School. She earned a B.A. from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, followed by a Master's Degree in Mathematics through the University of Iowa. Throughout college she continued to take classes in both piano and organ. She taught music briefly before switching to teaching math even working for a summer with Dr. James Van Allen at the Physics depart at U of I as a programmer on his satellites detecting the radiation belts around the earth (that cause the Northern Lights). While there, she found a job as a math professor at Superior State, where she eventually met Orin as one of her students. They were married the following summer and as she would say, "the rest is history." Through most of the 1980's, she sold insurance through Lutheran Brotherhood, during which she enjoyed the social aspects of the job even more than the business itself. After retiring, she volunteered for many years helping people with their taxes. She was an active member of the First Lutheran Church in International Falls, playing the organ and piano for church services, weddings, and numerous other celebrations for many years. When she eventually retired from playing at the church, she worked with John Faith to record two CD's of her favorite piano songs giving any proceeds from the music to the church. Even in her waning years, when her friends would visit, they would ask her to play Pachelbel's Canon in D, Christmas songs, or other favorites on her piano. For much of her life she sewed her own clothes and those of her children; and enjoyed knitting, embroidery and needlepoint. She and Orin enjoyed time spent on their pontoon boat on Rainy Lake especially breakfasts. She enjoyed cooking and was famous for her kolaches and buns. She was involved in many organizations over the years. In the 1950's she had been a member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Iowa. In the 1960's and 70's she was an active member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), holding the positions of President, Membership, and Legislative Chairman of the local branch and Historian of the Minnesota Division Board of Directors. Both she and Orin were passionate advocates for the unborn and were supporters of Northern Options For Women since its creation. In later years, local knitting and prayer groups would meet at her house each month. Bette's family would like to express our most heartfelt gratitude and thanks to all of her faithful friends and her First Lutheran family who have helped and supported her over these last difficult years. Your love and kindness have meant so much to her and to us. God Bless you all. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church or to Northern Options For Women. A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church on September 30th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery. Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary, Inc.