First Rate Care

Catherine Simonson

Hello, I'm Catherine Simonson, but everyone calls me Kate.

Kate was born in Cando, ND on 9/5/1930 to George & Ethel Windjue. she was one of 4 girls, Irene Matz (deceased), Doris Nerby (deceased), and Betty Simonson, Mentor MN. Two brothers-Leland Windjue (deceased) and Lloyd Windjue, Jamestown. Kate attended school in Cando ND, although she decided to start her family in light of graduating.

In the late 1940's, 2 bothers moved to Cando ND to work road construction. While there, they were swept off their feet by two local Windjue girls, Kate and her sister Betty! They won over their father by digging their way to them by hand when the driveway had been snowed in. Not long after, Earl married the love of his life, Kate, 2/22/1949.

They quickly started their family with the birth of our daughter Linda on 10/24/1949.They added Cathy-1952 (Bruggeman) Mentor, (deceased) and another daughter, Cindy - 1954 (Benson) Mentor. With their daughters in tow, they moved their home from Cando ND to a farm just north of Mentor MN where they added 3 more children: Trudy-1956 (Austin) Baxter MN, their 1st son Rory-1961 Mentor. During this time, they added many grandbabies before finally adding their final child, a son, Cory-1974, Rockford, MN.

Through this union, they were blessed with 6 children, 16 Grandchildren, 39 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren. Since moving to Mentor, Kate has been a faithful member of the Faith Lutheran Church. She has served on various committees and clubs and has been a very active member of the Pioneer Memorial Care Center auxiliary committee.

Although she did not have many hobbies, Kate was a devoted housewife and mother. Her home was always open and welcome, always making sure supper was ready for whoever was around to eat. Her yard was meticulous, and one could not count the hours moving and taking care of flowers. She made the best crab-apple jelly around, and throughout her entire life, her greatest joy was always having her kids and Grandkids around her.

In 1993 she lost her husband Earl in a train-vehicle accident in Mentor, and though she remained a widow, she found great joy spending her mornings with a wonderful group of ladies at the Mentor Cafe. One of her most favorite pastimes were the adventures she and her best friend, Doris Roberts went on, most of the time landing them at the casino. As well as all the shenanigans she and her grandson Brad got into road tripping, they never made it 20 miles without having to stop for scratch offs!

She worked at various businesses in Mentor once her kids were grown, favorites included stocking shelves at the grocery store and visiting with customers at the Mentor Dairy Queen. Nothing compared to the joy she got helping watch her Grandbabies.

Kate resided in Mentor up until May of 2022, before moving into the Fair Meadow Nursing Home.