Gladys LaDonna (Heiland) Simonds, age 99, passed away on Thursday, February 12th in Hamilton, Montana, at the Remington of Sapphire Lutheran Homes surrounded by much of her family.
Gladys was the youngest of five daughters born to Milton A. and Nora (Weaver) Heiland. She was born on September 1, 1926, on the family farm near Anna, Ohio, baptized on September 26, 1926, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Botkins, Ohio, and confirmed there on May 12, 1940. She graduated from Botkins High School with the Class of 1944 and continued her education at Miami-Jacobs Business College in Dayton, Ohio, graduating on June 21, 1949.
She was employed as a secretary at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, where she met John A. Simonds. The couple was married on April 8, 1951, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Botkins, Ohio. One week after their marriage, John left for Okinawa, where he served for eighteen months. Following his return, they lived in Rapid City, South Dakota, and later in Reardon, Washington, before returning to Anna, Ohio, where they made their home and raised their family.
In August 1990, they moved from Ohio to make their home near Hamilton, Montana, where they resided thereafter. Gladys and John were the parents of four children: Carol Elaine, John David, Mark Allen, and James Aaron, who were born and raised in Anna, Ohio. Gladys chose to be a devoted stay-at-home mother, dedicating her time to her husband and children. She was a cook, baker, gardener, seamstress, nurse, teacher, chauffeur, and constant companion. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, sewing, genealogy, camping, and traveling with her family.
Two of their children preceded her in death: Mark in 1999 and Carol (Gerald) Blackwelder in 2000. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John A. Simonds, who passed away on March 30, 2013, after 62 years of marriage, and by her sisters, Elma Huecker, Ada Kaser, Erma Stangel, and Dorothy Fowble; and one great-grandson.
She is survived by her sons, John D. (Marion) Simonds of Great Falls, Montana, and James A. (Michelle) Simonds of Westminster, Colorado; son-in-law, Gerald Blackwelder; her grandchildren, Stacey (Chris) Diemoz, Curtis Simonds, Jennifer Birkeland, Stephanie (Tyler) Yuhas, Bradley Simonds, Jessica Simonds, Matthew Simonds, Heather Simonds; thirteen great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and many extended family members and friends.
Gladys was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Botkins, Ohio, where she taught
Sunday School for many years, was active in Bible School and the Women of the Church, and served as a past president. After moving to Montana, she became an Associate Member of Faith Lutheran Church in Hamilton, and was a member of the Ruth Circle. She was also a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Hamilton. She was a charter member of the Shelby County Genealogical Society in Sidney, Ohio; the Auglaize County Genealogical Society in Wapakoneta, Ohio; and the First Families of Auglaize County. She served as an officer of the Library Committee for the Anna Branch of the Amos Memorial Library in Sidney, Ohio. In Montana, she was a Past President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #47 in Hamilton, a member of the Air Force Sergeants Auxiliary, the Bitterroot Gem and Mineral Society, and the 8 & 40 Unit of the American Legion Auxiliary in Hamilton.
Funeral services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 275 Hattie Lane, Hamilton, Montana, on Thursday, February 19th at 11 a.m. There will be a reception after the service at Grace Lutheran Church, and friends are invited to follow the family to the interment at Riverview Cemetery thereafter. Memorials are suggested to Lutheran World Relief. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
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