Larue Simonson

There will be a Parish Prayer Service on Thursday at 7:30 PM at the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield. LaRue Marie Simonson was born November 21, 1931, in Cottonwood County, MN, the daughter of Joseph and Clara (Saffert) Kastner. LaRue received her education in rural school District #79 in Germantown Township. She was employed at the Sanborn City Cafe and also at Hornick's Hardware Store. She was united in marriage to Donald Simonson on September 28, 1949, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Sanborn. After their marriage, they moved to their farm near Sanborn, where LaRue belonged to a Home Extension club, taught CCD for many years, and was involved in her kids' activities, including several years as head cook in the Cottonwood County 4-H Foodstand. They moved to Fish Lake near Windom in May, 1979. She then volunteered at Sogge's Nursing Home, where she did mending for ten years, and cleaned house for several area families. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Windom and served as president of the Ladies Guild. She sewed baptismal gowns and especially enjoyed cutting and piecing squares for quilts for the missions. They moved into Windom in 2004 and to New Ulm in October, 2008, where they were members of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. LaRue passed away on March 10, 2009, one week after suffering a severe head injury. She is survived by her husband Donald of New Ulm; three daughters- Sharon (Erv) Weinkauf of New Ulm, Nancy (Keith) Anderson of Hugo, MN, and Peggy (Steve) Simon of Groton, SD; three sons- David (Nancy) Simonson of White Bear Lake, MN, Jeffrey (Annmarie) Simonson of San Antonio, TX, and Gary (Barb) Simonson of Jordan, MN; 17 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; two brothers- Ray (Evelyn) Kastner and Wayne (Diane) Kastner, both of Sanborn; and sister Alice Radtke of Sanborn. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Joe Kastner, and an infant son. Besides quilt-making, LaRue enjoyed time with her family, crossword puzzles, playing cards, dancing, and baking - especially home-made buns and rolls for her grandchildren. She will be sadly missed.