Rosella Margery Simon

Rosella Margery (Roberts) Simon, formerly of Albert Lea, entered heaven on January 30, 2026 in Waseca, MN. She was born on December 8, 1930 to Axel and Florence (Hanson) Roberts on the family farm in rural Clarks Grove, MN. She was the third-born of seven children. Rosie started school in a one-room country schoolhouse; the teacher asked if she could join the other first-grader, even though she was only five. Per Rosie, she got all A’s except a B in deportment for talking!

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bridge Community Church, Albert Lea, MN on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Visitation begins at noon, memorial service at 1:00 PM, with a picnic-themed luncheon and internment to follow.

During her young life she became very responsible; she helped in and outside the home and helped care for her three little brothers, Donnie, Milt, and Laverne. She also helped other relatives and at age twelve learned to drive horses out in the fields.

As a teen, her family moved to Albert Lea where she met a handsome sailor named Sonny, from Lake Mills, Iowa. He was home on leave; they exchanged letters while he completed his service and were married on January 7, 1949 at Calvary Baptist Church. Their family grew to include four daughters. Rosie’s daughters, and her little sister Mary, were the light of her life and they loved her mightily in return. Rosie’s focus and joy was her family; each new grandchild was greeted as if they were the first. Her faith in Jesus was unwavering and her vibrant smile reflected His love. She was loyal, exceptionally kind, and unselfish in the giving of her love and time to family and friends.

Rosie’s jobs and volunteer activities focused around caring for others and serving in her church. She worked at St. John’s Lutheran Home as a nurse’s aide and supervised children at Sibley Elementary. She was active in American Baptist Women, served in several children’s ministries, Girl Scouts, and the March of Dimes.

She is survived by her sister Mary (Don) Blake; daughters Barbara (Kevin) Carlson, Nancy (Kelly) Flattum, and Kathi (Ken) Peterson; and son-in-law John Goodmanson. Her grandchildren Trenie (Keith) Gorak, Dean (Tamara) Goodmanson, Casey Carlson, Jesse Carlson, Timminy (Aaron) Keiffer, Melaina (Josh) Coppersmith, Brooke (Nic) Howe, Jordan (Molly) Flattum, Kenny Jr. (Teresa) Peterson, Jackson (Angela) Peterson, Joshua (Jennifer) Peterson; along with nineteen great grandchildren, her sister-in-law Carol Roberts, and many nieces and nephews.

Rosie was preceded in death by her husband Gerald (Sonny) Simon, daughter Janet Goodmanson, and granddaughter Savannah Carlson. Also her siblings and their spouses Richard (Mavis) Roberts, Harriet (Ernest) Christensen, Donald (Karen) Roberts and brothers Milton and Laverne; father and mother in-law Erbin (Shorty) and Anne Simon; sisters and brothers in-law Lila (Owen) Edwin and Elaine (Dot) (Marvin) Anderson.

In remembrance of Rosie, the family suggests memorials to Waseca Area Caregiver Services or Bridge Community Church in Albert Lea.