27 Sep. 1933 – 18 Sep. 2017
Born to parents Ada Belle (nee: Burditt) and Sam E. Simons on September 27, 1933 in Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota. His siblings were brothers William, Vern and Walter Simons, sisters Freda Wilson, Clara Beth Peterson, Gladys Edwards and Kay Ingalls.
He attended grade school near Marcus, SD, at the Barada School, graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in Sturgis, SD, where in 1952 he was a part of the South Dakota All Stars football team, in 1953 (his graduating year) he was the first athlete to help the Sturgis Scoopers football team make it to their first winning streak in Sturgis Brown High School history and attended 2 years at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion through a football scholarship.
On June 27, 1953 in Sturgis, he married Joyce M. Kost, daughter of Lillian (nee: Bekken) and Albert W. Kost. From this union came 3 children, Sundae (Dale Orwick) of Winnemucca, NV, Cindy (Merrill Jolley) of Auburn, CA and son Sam Simons of Moorcroft, WY.
He taught at the Opal School, Opal, SD for one year and worked for A. W. Kost Construction of Sturgis, SD a few years before working at Black Hills Power and Light Kirk Plant in Lawrence County, SD before transferring (circa 1961) to the Neil Simpson Station east of Gillette, Campbell County, Wyoming at Wyodak Camp. Not enjoying the indoor work so much, he transferred outside to the Wyodak Resources Development Corporation which supplied the coal used to fuel the power plant and was employed there until his retirement.
An avid outdoorsman he spent his lifetime golfing, camping, hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed motorcycles, snow machines and horses. He was half owner of the “You Tag Them, We’ll Drag Them” team that worked the hunting season in the Grand Teton areas of Wyoming with friend John Filbeck. Wayne and wife Joyce met many people who were to remain lifetime friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother William (died as an infant), brothers-in-law Emerson Wilson, Bob Peterson and Howard Ingalls and daughter-in-law Annetta Simons.
He is survived by his wife and their children listed above, grandchildren: T. J. Hardy, J.R. (Amber) Jolley, Shannon L. (Natalie) Lowery, Cody S. (Maria) Lowery, Serenity (nee: Jolley) & Samuel Madison, Lori (nee: Simons) & Dustin Pantano, Alan W. Simons, Britt (nee: Jolley) & B.J. Alvarez; several Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren.
At his request, he was cremated and wanted no funeral services. A headstone has been placed at the White Owl Cemetery next to his Grandmother Clara Ensor.
