Irene (Simons) Allen, 96, of
Bemidji, MN, formerly of Greenbush, died Mon., Jan. 11, 2010 at her home in Bemidji,
primarily from complication of a long life well lived. Born June 5, 1913 in Bemidji, she was the
youngest child, and third daughter of Judge Hiram A. & Mary (Gotwald) Simons,
who had settled in Bemidji in 1904.
She grew up and attended school in
Bemidji, graduating from Bemidji High School in 1932 and Bemidji State Teachers
College in 1936. She began her teaching
career in Gully, MN, about 60 miles from Bemidji. While there, she became acquainted with Louis
E. Allen, also an alumnus of BSTC, who was teaching in Gonvick, just down the
road from Gully. They were married June
8, 1938 in Bemidji.
Irene & Louie had three children:
David, Julie & Mary. In 1940 they moved
to Mentor, MN where Louis became Superintendent of Schools and Irene was
pressed into service teaching health and physical education in the elementary
school because of the wartime shortage of teachers. Irene continued to teach, this time English
and physical education in the junior/senior high school, when the family moved
to Greenbush, MN in 1952.
Soon after moving to Greenbush, the
family became active members of Bethel Lutheran Church. Irene was involved with the life of the
church, teaching Sunday School,
participating in women’s groups, helping with cleaning, and supporting the
mission of the church in any way she could, even after moving to Bemidji in
2005.
Greenbush remained the family home after
Louie retired in 1975 and Irene in 1976.
Even after Louie’s death in 1992, Irene remained in their home in
Greenbush, where her friends, young (many of them former students) and older
kept her in their thoughts and lives.
Finally in Feb. 2005, failing eyesight and other health issues brought
her back to Bemidji, where she was a resident at GoldPine Home until her death.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband
Louis, her parents, and by all of her siblings; Hiram, Mary, Edwin, Julia,
John, Tom, Richard & Henry. She is
survived by her children: L. David (Pat)
Allen of Lincoln, Nebraska; Julie Ann Allen of Cass Lake, MN & Mary Kay
Allen of Bemidji. 2 grandchildren: Colin
David (Lori) Allen of Beaver Crossing, NE & Siobhan Patricia Allen of
Lincoln, NE, 5 great-grandchildren,
& many nieces & nephews. Many friends from Bemidji, Gonvick, Mentor
& Greenbush will also mourn her passing.
Funeral Services were held on Saturday,
Jan. 16, 2010 in Bethel Lutheran Church of Greenbush with Pastor Mark Mathews,
officiating. Linda Sovde was the
organist and David Lindell was the vocalist.
Pallbearers were Carolyn Eeg, Jan & Kristen Wollin, Kari Wiskow,
Carol Lindell, Marilyn Stordahl, Chris Wahlberg-Goodson & Elizabeth
Dvergsten-Beauce. Honorary Pallbearers
were all of her dear friends and neighbors at Greenbush. Interment
was in Bethel Lutheran Cemetery at Greenbush with Gieseke Funeral Chapel of
Greenbush in charge of arrangements.
Memorials and condolences may be sent to
the family c/o Mary Allen, 1021 Birchmont Beach Rd. NE, Bemidji, MN 56601.