Lois Simons

MARSHALL — Committal prayers and interment for Lois Simons, 101, of Rochester, and formerly of Winona and Marshall, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Marshall Cemetery, Marshall, with Pastor Gwen Bohlke officiating. Services entrusted to Fawcett Junker Funeral Home and Crematory, Winona and Fountain City, WI.

She passed away Thursday, May 16, 2019, at Madonna Towers, Rochester.

Lois Anne was born Oct. 31, 1917, in Marshall, to Harry and Lela (Maxwell) Simons. She graduated as Valedictorian from Marshall High School, Marshall; received her bachelor’s degree from Winona State University and her Master’s Degree from Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA. She moved to Winona in 1957 and served as the Registrar for 11 years and then as the Director of Institutional Research at Winona State University for 11 years, retiring in 1979.

Lois was a member of the former Central United Methodist Church, Winona; Delta Kappa Gamma; AAUW; Watkins Home Auxiliary Executive Board; WSU Alumni Society and the Winona Retired Teachers Association.

She served on active duty with the US Naval Reserve from 1943-46 and again from 1951-54 and was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander, in September 1954.

She is survived by sisters-in-law, Vivian Evans, Montevideo, and Ruthanne Bennett, Lino Lakes; nephews, Brad Evans, Montevideo, and Paul Evans, Paynesville, and niece, Colleen Evans, Vermillion, S.D. among other nieces and nephews and friends from Winona and Madonna Towers in Rochester.

Lois will be dearly remembered as a kind and independent woman ahead of her time. She enlisted in the Navy when it was uncommon for women to do so. She enjoyed travel around the United States and the world. She loved cats and had a wonderful sense of humor.