Rosemary (Lande) Simon

Rosemary (Lande) Simon passed away in hospice comfort care on Feb. 10, 2024, with her four children by her side. It is difficult to find all the right words and thoughts to cover a long, well-lived, good life of an exceptionally strong woman over the span of 95 years. We can only skim the surface of what a remarkable, daughter, mom, grandmother, great-grandma and great-great-grandma Mom was.

Mom, an only child, born to Andrew Lawrence Lande (aka Wick) and Edith Ledo (Ledoux) Lande on Dec. 1, 1928, in Pryor. With her cold black curly hair and a desire to dance, she was quickly known as “Pryor’s Little Shirley Temple.” Her uncles, who were well-known cattle ranchers in the Pryor area affectionately gave her the nickname “Horsefly.” Ultimately, two of her granddaughters now carry the middle name of Rose or Roze.

Mom’s younger school years were spent at Crow Agency. Some years were spent in Lodge Grass when her family lived at Willow Creek Dam area. Grandpa, a government heavy equipment mechanic, worked for the Japanese internment camps during the war era, which also moved the family during Mom’s teenage school years to Parker, Arizona. Moving back to Billings, Rosie graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1947.

Mom was married to George W. Simon on Jan. 3, 1948. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1967; her dad in 1983 and her mom in 2002. At 95 years, Mom outlived many of her extended Lande and Ledoux families as well as lifelong friends, but leaves behind many newly made friends and coworkers through the years that have continued to cherish their friendships with her.

Mom jumped into action, learning how to run a welding shop after Dad’s death. Eventually, running such a business and being a single parent to four young children led her to selling the shop. Mom then pursued a government career in positions helping Native American people with employment opportunities, medical needs, etc. She retired from Indian Health Service, retired with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and retired from Indian Health Board of Billings. At 80 years old, she was still transporting urban natives to the Crow-Northern Cheyenne Hospital in the IHBB van to Crow Agency and the IHS Pryor Clinic for doctor’s appointments, various medical services and to pick up prescription medicines for people who could not get there otherwise.

Mom was an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe, and child of the Ties In The Bundle Clan. She was just as proud of her dual tribal acceptance through her mother’s Chippewa and Cree lineal descendancy with the Little Shell Tribe of Montana.

Her daughters teasingly joked that Mom definitely had coyote characteristics; those being intelligent, curious, playful, protective, adventurous, independent, self-reliant, has family values, a frontier spirit and strong individuality.

Mom was family first in everything. She never forgot a birthday; never missed giving a Christmas gift, loved the Holidays with family.  There wasn’t a family member who didn’t seek Mom’s help and trusted advice when they needed it throughout the years.

Mom’s likes were: Collecting crazy socks, reading a good book; challenging herself with word and picture puzzles, sewing beautiful quilts, attending powwows and rodeos, white water rafting, and for about 60-plus years, planting her favorite petunias and impatiens in the front yard brick planters of her home that she lived in and maintained until her passing. She was a lover of the old-time country music genre and not the music they call country today. Never liked TV much, but seemed to never miss Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune or Steve Harvey.

Mom’s dislikes were: Mustard on her hamburger, Reba McIntyre’s voice, tipping too much money at restaurants, shopping online, football because she didn’t understand the game, and men wearing shorts. She was frustrated with everything information technology-wise and social media because her kids would know the news before she could call and tell them first.

Mom was a lover of travel, whether it was preplanned, such as Europe, or spontaneous short road trips to see her favorite spots such as, but not limited to, Shell Canyon in the Big Horns, Natural Bridge over the Boulder River at McCleod, Thermopolis Hot Springs, Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range and tailgate picnics in the Pryors. We would always say beware of opening your car door around Rosie, because she will grab the front seat with a bag already packed and be ready to roll.

In spite of what her children thought about her continuing to drive, she drove herself to the Yellowstone County DMV before her 95th birthday to renew her driver’s license for an additional four years.

Her surviving family members are her children, Sharon Limberhand, Jacque Kelly, George Larry Simon and Nancy Bjelland; her grandchildren, Mick Petersen (Michelle), Dennis J. Limberhand (Ruth), Wade Kelly, Kimberly Roze Sterle (Joe) and Jamie Watkins (Bryan); her great-grandchildren, Beau Petersen, Limberhands/Lafromboises:  Deja, Cody, Cheyenne, Cissy, Sophie and Nova, Dakota, Eunice, and Bobbi Jo; Jacob Kelly (Kendra), Justiss Kelly (Sophie), McKenzie and Aidin Sterle; and Aubrie and Sydney Watkins; her great-great-grandchildren, Ryder Old Elk, Meadow Rose Lafromboise and Burnham James Kelly.

Viewing and visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave., with services at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, also at Michelotti-Sawyers.

If you have something special that you remember with Rosie and would like to share it with the family, please write it down and leave it in a sealed envelope at the funeral home so these lasting memories can be enjoyed and not forgotten.

Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens on 1721 Central Ave, Billings.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to: RiverStone Health Hospice Home at 2230 Mission Way, Billings, MT 59102; hospice@riverstonehealth.org.