Obituary of Leona Simpson
A graveside service for Leona Simpson, age 98, of Spirit Lake, will be held at 11 am, Friday, October 20, 2023, at Fairview Cemetery in Terril. Following the burial, there will be a luncheon and time of fellowship at noon at Wesley Place at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake.
Leona Mae Simpson, 98, of Spirit Lake passed away peacefully at her home with family by her side on Monday, October 16, 2023.
Leona Goodman Simpson was born August 6, 1925 to Ed and Nettie (Locey) Goodman. In 1935, Leona's family relocated to Spirit Lake, Iowa where she attended school and met the love of her life, Merle Simpson. On January 26, 1944, Leona and Merle were united in marriage at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. In 1950, they moved to their dairy farm in Spirit Lake where they raised their family and spent the rest of their years.
Leona enjoyed the outdoors and helped with the family dairy operation, farming, the local 4H club and attended numerous fairs across the Midwest to help her husband, Merle, show dairy cattle. She also spent many years operating a dog kennel where they bred, and raised litters of puppies, shipping them all over the states and other countries. In her free time, she enjoyed fishing, camping, water aerobics, Montgomery United Methodist Women's Fellowship and teaching Sunday School classes at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Leona also enjoyed arrow-head hunting with her husband and grandsons.
Her journey through life was marked by her love for family and she was fortunate enough to be able to live her later years at home being cared for by her granddaughter-in-law, Tasha (Adam) Simpson and surrounded by some of her great-grandchildren daily.
Leona is survived by her brother, Wayne Goodman; children, Ivan (Judy) Simpson of Spirit Lake, Iowa and Sheryl (Jim) Irvine of Gary, South Dakota. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and extended family members.
Leona was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Merle; sister, Rilma Jensen and brother, Ed Goodman.
