Gerald Martin Simensen, age 88, a long time Wolf Point carpenter, building contractor and artist, died on January 27, 2014 at Faith Lutheran Home. Gerald was born on January 3, 1926 near Wolf Point, Montana to Torbjorn and Andrea (Jakobson) Simensen. He spent his early years on the farm south of the Missouri River on the family homestead. Gerald accompanied his mother, sister, and two brothers on an ocean trip to Norway to visit relatives when he was 11. The family was unable to return from Norway, due to WWII, until 9 years later when Gerald was 20 years old. The family spent their time in Norway on the islands of Foldoy, Finnoy and in Stavanger. Gerald went to school until his early teens and then helped support the family with jobs involving chopping wood, growing greenhouse tomatoes, gathering sea shells for fertilizer and fishing for sardines. The Germans occupied Norway during this time period and they sent Gerald to a concentration camp near Oslo where he was eventually freed. While in Norway, Gerald attended Sand Carpenter’s School and learned furniture making and wood carving.
After returning from Norway, Gerald returned to the farm and then worked as a carpenter for several years with building contractors on projects in Wolf Point, Circle, Glasgow and Opheim. During this time, Gerald met a young Wolf Point nurse named Ruth Marie Isachsen. His relationship with Ruth blossomed and he began building their house in Wolf Point. They were married on June 14, 1953. Over the years, the family and Simensen Construction grew. Gerald built many homes, commercial buildings and some churches in Wolf Point and the surrounding area, and his sons David and Philip eventually joined him in the business. Gerald developed the Isachsen Addition in Wolf Point and built many of the homes on Crescent Drive and East Johnson Street.
Gerald and Ruth were long time members of First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point and active for many years in church activities. The family enjoyed hunting, boating and fishing on Fort Peck and trips to Kalispell to visit family and recreate. Gerald also enjoyed gardening and raised wonderful tomatoes. Later in life, Gerald finally had time to pursue painting. His expert craftsmanship, eye for detail and creativity allowed him to complete many fine oil paintings of Norway fjords, Montana landscapes and the Missouri River Breaks. He thoroughly enjoyed displaying his artwork at area art shows and visiting with fellow artists and art enthusiasts.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ruth, and his sister Alphild Osterhus. He is survived by his brothers Kastor (Lona) Simensen and Donald Simensen, and children David (Carol) Simensen, Diane (Richard) Long, Philip (Betty) Simensen, June (Thomas) Welch and Joanna (Don) Stanek. His grandchildren are Tanner and Hunter Simensen, Ryan and Melanie Long, Logan and Karina Simensen, Matthew, Michael (Octavia) and MacKenzie Welch, Jillian and Cole Stanek and great-granddaughter Penelope Welch.
Gerald’s family greatly appreciates the care, compassion and attention he was given during his last month of life at the Faith Lutheran Home. Visitation will be on February 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Funeral services will be held at First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point on February 7, at 2:00 P.M. followed by interment at Greenwood Cemetery.
Service Schedule
Visitation
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday February 6, 2014
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Friday February 7, 2014
1st Lutheran Church
415 Johnson Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Service Schedule
Visitation
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday February 6, 2014
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Friday February 7, 2014
1st Lutheran Church
415 Johnson Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Myrna Nicholson says
God speed Joey he is now in the hands of The Lord .No longer in pain just peace.
Jan Dare says
My sincere sympathy to the Simensen family … you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ruth Squires-Hood says
Over the past several years I have visited with your Dad at the Senior Citizen Center while back visiting my Mom. He was always so warm and kind and apologized each time when I had to explain who I was. You were all very blessed.
Toni (Aguilar) Lund says
To Joanna and family,
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I’m also sorry I never had the opportunity to met your father, it sounds like he was an amazing man and led quite an exciting life! I found as much as we would love to ease the pain during this time we tend to flounder, but a thought I’d like to share is from the book of psalms 34:18 “Jehovah is close to the broken hearted; he saves those who are crushed in spirit!” Please know your in my thoughts and prayers
Carol Bryan says
Dear Joanna, I appreciated learning the story of your dad’s teenage years in Norway. There are so many interesting stories about Wolf Point people. People in Spokane just can’t understand how interesting our home town is. I also enjoyed visiting with your dad as he shared his art in the park. Take care. Carol
R.J.& Arlene Doornek says
Dear Family of Gerald,
We are deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved father. Gerald was such an accomplished man: Carpenter, Artist, Traveler and Civic Servant. He was always so pleased to share his abundance of Raspberries, Tomatoes and Kale with us. He was a pleasant next door neighbor. We can all take comfort in knowing that he enjoys his eternal reward now with his beloved, Ruth. We hope your many fond memories of both your parents will be a comfort to you during this difficult time. We will not be home to share in Gerald’s final farewell with his friends and family, but know that our prayers are with you all as you grieve your loss.
Arlene Erdahl says
What a guy! I wish I had known him. I hope he wrote his adventures down for his family. I have relatives from Norway and relatives who lived in that area of Montana, some of whom painted. My sympathies and prayers to Diane & Dick and the rest of the family.
Norma Rauch says
It was always pleasant visiting with Mr. Simensen. My prayer and thoughts are for you. God comfort you in your loss.
Mona Fast says
Terry and I are so sorry for your great loss. I loved Uncle Gerald. To me he was a “gentle giant”. He was very talented in so many things, but always humble and interested in others. Most of all, I admired his undying devotion to his wife, Aunt Ruth and his entire family. His family and their generation survived hardships we’ve never had to experience. They grew up not seeing love expressed in words but they still loved deeply and showed it as best they knew how in their actions. We were all blessed by his steady consistent character. Until we see him again at Jesus’ feet, we will miss him greatly.
Leatrice Spence says
I am sorry to hear of your father, father in law, and grandfather’s passing. Know that many thoughts and prayers are with you in this very sad time and will continue to come your way as you move through your grief to healing.
Leatrice R. (Kveseth) Spence
Scott Taylor says
To the Simensen family, Gail and I would like to pass on our heartfelt condolences to you all on the passing of Gerald…..I worked with Gerald on many a digging job, along with helping him with those pesky foxes he raised over the hill, and with his two carwashes so many years ago now….
I always had a lot of respect for both your mother Ruth and Gerald too…..he was simply a good, good man.
God Bless
Scott Taylot
Lorna Gagne. Schumacher says
Diane and family I am so sorry to here about the loss of your father. He must have been a wonderful person. You must have had awesome trip to Norway with him. I wish I could be there to visit with you it’s been so long. Know that you and your family are in my prayers during this difficult time. Love & Prayers. Lorna
Kathy and Terry Sather says
Our thoughts are with you all. Just from knowing his daughter and our friend, June Welch, we know that he must have been a great man.
Kathy and Terry Sather
Havre, MT