Lillian Irene Simon

Lillian Irene Simon, was nearing her 100th birthday when she passed away July 16, 2017, at Garden Hills Assisted Living in Spearfish, SD.

Lillian was the eldest of 9 children born to Rudolf and Amelia (Hintz) Kolb on August 23, 1917, at Date, SD. After graduating from high school, Lillian worked at the Jackson Cafe in Bison, SD. In 1938, she attended Spearfish Teachers College. She taught at Scotch Cap School until 1940, when she received a better offer ($60 a month) from Reder School where she had 16 pupils and all eight grades.

November 2, 1940, Lillian married Marion Lee Simon of Zeona, SD. They lived a while on the “Hintz place” in a three room rock house near her folks’ ranch. She became Assistant Postmaster of Date, SD, until 1945, when she and Lee moved onto the Simon family farm located 5 miles east of Zeona.

In 1950, they purchased the Zeona Store and Post Office after first taking a memorable trip to Alaska. Lillian was the Postmaster there until her retirement in 1987. A few years later (1996) she and Lee moved into a home located on their son’s ranch near Newell, SD. In the spring of 2009, Lillian moved to Garden Hills Assisted Living in Spearfish where she lived until her passing.

Lillian enjoyed sewing, quilting, card playing, fishing, dancing, playing the piano, and traveling. She was always happy for the opportunity to serve a cup of coffee to friends or neighbors.

Lillian is survived by one daughter, Beverly (Duane) Finger of Wellington, CO; two sons, Kurt (Judy) of Belle Fourche and Lynn (Arleyn) of Tempe, AZ; three grandchildren, Darren (Carol) Finger of Fort Collins, CO, Janet (Boyd) Eisenbraun of Albert Lea, MN, and Rena (Matt) Stautberg of Portland, OR; two great-grandchildren, Joel (Emily) Eisenbraun of Summit, SD, and Josh (Samantha) Eisenbraun of Shakopee, MN; as well as one brother, Delbert (Betty) Kolb of Sturgis, SD; one sister, Deanna (Rod) Kensrud of Alexandria, VA; and two sisters-in-law, Jean Simon of Spearfish, SD, and Darlene Kolb of Bison, SD.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Lee; granddaughter, Sandy Finger; parents, Rudolf and Amelia Kolb; six brothers, Raymond, Gilbert, Ernest, Vernon, Arnold, and Eldred; four brothers-in-law; and seven sisters-in-law.