Helen Simons

Helen Simons, 98, Bismarck, passed away on Monday, September 25, 2023 at CHI St. Alexius, Bismarck.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1143 N 26th St, Bismarck.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  

Burial will take place at 10:30 AM, Friday, October 13, at the Michigan Cemetery, in Michigan, ND.

Helen Bachmeier was born on October 25, 1924, in Orrin, ND to Felix and Katherine (Schmaltz) Bachmeier. She would eventually have fifteen siblings. She grew up on the family farm and attended school in Orrin where her dad drove the horse drawn school bus.

Helen married Gordon Fosness on November 24, 1946. Gordon used his carpentry skills to turn a grain bin into their first home in Rugby. They moved to Williston in 1954. They had four daughters:  Donna, Charlotte, Rhonda, and Roxanne. They were members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She worked at Piggly Wiggly and Borud’s Bakery.

Helen married LaVerne Simons in Devils Lake on May 26, 1974. They lived on his family farm south of Michigan, ND. She had a massive garden which led to massive amount of canning. She loved her flower gardens and house plants. They were members of Michigan Lutheran Church where she was active in Sunday school as superintendent, Ladies Aid as treasurer and any and all church events involving cooking and serving food. She was a member of the area Homemaker’s Club. They worked hard on the farm, but Saturdays were special. Every week she had her hair done in the morning and they danced the night away at the Eagle’s Club in Devils Lake. They moved to Fordville, ND in the fall of 1983 where they owned and operated Simons Bar and Simons Café. She ran a good old small-town café with homemade meals and goodies. They became members of Fordville Lutheran church where she again became the treasurer of Ladies Aid. Her embroidery and sewing skills made many quilts for the annual raffle. After she retired, she became the cook at the Fordville Senior Center where she was a member. Through the years she also babysat the children of various pastors. She has missed LaVerne every day since he passed on September 3, 2001. She moved to Bismarck in 2017 and was so happy in the 55+ community where she lived. She made wonderful friends and was busy with almost every activity there. Her favorite places were the puzzle room where she was deemed “Puzzle Queen” and the room where Bingo and Wii bowling were held. She even tried pool and cornhole for the first time in the past year or so.

She made beautiful handmade treasures with fabric, thread, and yarn. We will have embroidered towels, afghans, doilies, and many other crafts to remember her by. She liked games and cards and reading. Her favorite books were cookbooks. There was always one open on her counter or table. Her love language was feeding people. She would bake such delicious things and share them.

She is survived by her daughters Donna Jost, Charlotte Reister, Rhonda Fosness, and Roxanne (Arlin) Gardner; her twelve grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and eleven great-great-grandchildren; sisters Adeline Bonn, Caroline Heilman who shares her birthday, Gertrude Aabrekke, and Janice Phillips; brother Gabriel Bachmeier and many extended family members that comes from 16 children!

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon Fosness, her husband LaVerne, grandson Zachary Smith, and granddaughter Angela Smith; sisters Betty Dickey, Mary Eva Kramer, Julia Kramer, Magdalena Bachmeier, Dorothy Weigel, Amelia Brown, and Esther Goldade; brothers Jacob Bachmeier, Casper Bachmeier, and Ludvig Bachmeier.

She will be laid to rest next to LaVerne at the Michigan City Cemetery. Together again….