Her Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Grenora by the Rev. John Paul Gardner. Interment will follow in the Hanks Cemetery.
A rosary is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Everson Funeral Home, Williston.
Iva Parent was born April 2, 1932, to Eugene and Joy (Raether) Parent at Medicine Lake, Mont. She was raised on the family farm near there and attended Medicine Lake High School.
On Dec. 12, 1949, Iva was united in marriage to Leo Simoneau at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Medicine Lake. She and Leo lived for a time in Cut Bank, Mont., Medicine Lake and Williston before eventually making their home on their farm near Hanks, N.D. During their many years on the farm, Iva helped Leo with farm chores, working with their cattle and driving machinery during springs work and harvest. Of course, she always made sure those that were farming were well fed.
Her children, and later grandchildren, were such a big part of her life. Iva followed all their sporting events and was continually spoiling the grandkids. She was blessed with a one-of-a-kind sense of humor.
She was a member of St. Boniface Altar Society and did much work around the church. She was a member of the Grenora Park Board, a past president of Grenora Senior Citizens Center and a longtime clerk of the Barr Butte Township Board.
She enjoyed crocheting and made many an afghan. Blessed with a green thumb, Iva continually grew and tended her plants and flowers. For years she was an avid bowler.
After Leo passed away in 1988, Iva moved into Grenora, living there until moving into Williston in September 2003.
Surviving Iva are her children: sons, Steven Simoneau and wife Terrie, of Kenmare, Dick Simoneau and wife, Laura Kay, of Zahl, and Lyle Simoneau of Sherwood; daughters, Rita Kolden and husband, Kip, of Williston, and Tracy Ross and husband, Troy, of Berthold; five grandchildren, Jason (Lacey) Simoneau, Jennifer Simoneau, Tyler Kolden, Ryan and J.T. Ross; three step-grandchildren, Denise Goyne, Chalsie and Cody Landberg; one great-grandson, Malakai Simoneau; and four step-great-grandchildren, Devin and Braeden Halverson, Nikyla and Scott Goyne; her sisters and brothers, Shirley Haga of Williston, Sheila Krug of Topeka, Kan., Gary Brien of Medicine Lake, Larry Brien of Williston, Janice Melton of Medicine Lake, Terry Groat of Billings, Alice Kirby of Plentywood, Virginia Francis of Great Falls, and Ted Parent of North Carolina, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Leo, she was preceded in death by her great-grandson, Ezekiel Simoneau; her son-in-law, Bryce Norby; a sister, Ramona Ferguson; her brothers, Bernard Brien and William Parent; her parents; her stepfather, Julius Brien, and stepmother, Leona Parent.
Friends may call at the Everson Funeral Home of Williston Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Wednesday at the church for the hour preceding the funeral.
Friends may visit the Everson Funeral Home Web site at www.eversonfh.com to share thoughts and remembrances.
Comments
Arnold Slaamot Jr. wrote on Nov 28, 2008 7:45 PM:
Sorry to hear about the passing of your loved one.
I can remember the only halloween we got to go trick or treating, and we walked over to the Simoneau's house at the farm north of Hanks. We lived on the farm 1/2 mile to the north of you..My prayers are with all of you. Contac me at aslaamot1@cox.net Arnold Slaamot Jr. "