Barbara Simpson

Barbara Simpson, age 87, of Chokio, MN passed away Saturday, November 27, 2021 at West Wind Village in Morris, MN surrounded by family.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Herman, MN with Rev. Heather E. Klason officiating.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 1st from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Herman. Visitation will continue Thursday morning, one hour prior to service time at the church. MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED DURING THE VISITATION AND DURING THE FUNERAL SERVICE AT THE CHURCH.

Interment will be in Lakeside Cemetery, rural Herman. Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Jonathan Vaage, Christopher Vaage, Erik Vaage, Emmitt Cleveland, Nick Cleveland, Kendal Cleveland and Bradey Lemme.

After the funeral a lunch will be served at the Herman Community Center.

Barbara (Barb) Jean (Andersen) Simpson was born May 19, 1934 to Ernest and Isabelle (Kreidler) Andersen at the family farm in Lein Township, Grant County, MN. In 1938 the family moved to a farm in Roseville Township where she grew to adulthood.

She graduated from Herman High School in 1952 and moved to Minneapolis and worked for Honeywell. She moved back to the Herman area in 1955 to work at the ASC office in Elbow Lake and got engaged to her high school sweetheart, Lowell Simpson. The couple married June 2, 1956 at the Methodist Church in Herman. They moved to the Simpson farm in Eldorado Township, Stevens County and spent their married life there. They welcomed six children to the family, Lorie, Ruth, DeeAnn, Janet, Rick and Melissa.

Barb considered herself an ordinary farm wife and homemaker, a rural woman. She was very active on the farm — helping with farm work, gardening and canning. Her specialty was making “Perfect” dill pickles and she won many ribbons at area county fairs for her canning and baking. For over 50 years Barb was active with Eldorado “Busi-Belles” Homemakers Club.

Barb was a member of the United Methodist Church in Herman, having been confirmed there in 1948. Barb was active in the Ladies Aid, serving in a variety of leadership roles and helping make quilts on Wednesday mornings. She cut lots of squares for quilts!

At home, Barb made corduroy lap quilts for her children and grandchildren and she enjoyed stitching and sewing baby blankets. Her hands were never idle.

Barb was active in the Wild Rose Rebekah Lodge, joining in 1961. She held major offices in the local lodge and served as district president. In 1990 she was awarded the Decoration of Chivalry from the Patriarchs Militant and Ladies Auxiliaries of Minnesota, which her mother, Isabelle, also received.

Barb enjoyed traveling and she and Lowell visited family in Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Kansas, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and throughout Minnesota.

Barb was very devoted to her children and grandchildren attending numerous sporting and music events at the school and serving as 4-H club leaders.

In late 2016, Barb was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In the fall of 2019, she left the family farm in Eldorado Township and resided at West Wind Village in Morris until her death.

She is survived her husband Lowell of Chokio and children, Lorie (Mark) Standinger of Arlington, MN, Ruth of Herman, DeeAnn Vaage of Milford, IA, Janet (Greg) Cleveland of Eau Claire, WI, Rick of Chokio, and Melissa (Carl) Lemme of Sioux Falls, SD; seven grandsons, Jonathan (Michea) Vaage of Milford, IA, Christopher Vaage of Austin, TX, Rev. Erik (Jessica) Vaage of St. Paul, MN, Emmitt, Nicholas and Kendal Cleveland of Eau Claire, WI and Bradey Lemme of Sioux Falls, SD; two brothers, Wallace (Lynda) Andersen of Hoffman, MN and Robert (Sharon) Andersen of Overland Park, KS; sister-in-law Marge Andersen of Herman, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Isabelle; brothers, Marvin, Roger and Kenneth; and sisters, Donna Mae and Dorothy; son-in law, Rev. Robert Vaage; and sister-in-law Shirley Andersen.