Memorial Service for Bernita Viola Simonson, 72, of Lake City, SD will be held on Friday, August 5, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at the Family Life Assembly of God Church in Sisseton, SD with Pastor Richard Grorud officiating. Special music will be provided by Sheila Oreskovich and Mabel Almos, and Krystal and Del Williams. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Bernita's friends and relatives. Interment will be in the One Road Bethel Cemetery at a later date. There will be a memorial visitation on Friday from 11:00 AM until service time, also at the Church. The Cahill Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Bernita was born on Feb 28, 1944 in Confidence, Iowa to Laurel and Geneva Brown. She graduated from Seymour High School in 1962. Bernita and Rod were married in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in Feb of 1974. She retired from Rockwell/Collins in 2001 which allowed her to take up quilting. She loved to make lap quilts for family and friends.
After visiting her nephew's place at the lake she expressed a desire to also have a lake house. This dream became reality in the early 90's and Bernita fell in love with the people and the area. She loved the way people got together and enjoyed the fellowship. Bernita was a member of the Buffalo Lake Free Lutheran Church where she met many people she called her friends. She loved all kinds of flowers and was a member of one of the local garden clubs. But most of all she loved going out to breakfast with relatives and friends. Bernita passed away on July 30, 2016 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.
Survivors include husband Rodney, daughter Tammy (Brian) Keller, Alburnett, Iowa; son George (Robyn) Stewart, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; sisters Jan (Wayne) Hancox, Marion, Iowa; Lois (Robert) Ziegler, Sewal, Iowa; Joy (Carroll) Gordy, Exline, Iowa; Elaine McGrann, Moulton, Iowa. Preceding her in death were her parents Laurel and Geneva Brown, Seymour, Iowa; Brothers Allen Brown, Newton, Iowa and Ellis (Sandra) Brown, Corydon, Iowa; Sister DeVee (Lawrence) Baker, Harvey, Iowa.
Any memorial funds received will be donated to small cell lung cancer research.
Many thanks to each and every one of you who offered prayers. They were and are much appreciated. Bernita will be missed.