SIMONSON, CARL AND JUNE (KEMP)

by Patsy Simonson Johnston

Entry F389 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Gwendolyn Ruth Simonson 1932-1936.

Carl and June Simonson on their 50th Anniversary 1965.

Carl and June Simonson Family 1986. L to R. Pat Johnston, Doris Spilker,
Audrey McPeak, Carl Simonson Jr. Harriet Phipps, Shirley Nutter,
Carol Taylor, June Hodges, Beth Harding.

Kenneth C. Simonson 1918-1962.

With the exception of one year in Wyo-
ming, Carl and June Simonson lived their
entire married life in Cherry and Hooker
Counties in Nebraska.

Carl was born June 22, 1893 at Newman
Grove, Nebraska to Sarah and Simon O.
Simonson and moved with his family to this
area in 1906. He and his brother Nels had
adjoining homesteads north of Mullen, Neb-
raska on the Middle Loup River.

Carl was married to June Kemp at Hyan-
nis, Nebraska Oct. 17, 1915 by Judge
McCawley. June was a twin daughter of Jesse
and Julia Kemp, a sister of the late Ben and
Grover Kemp who lived in the Mullen area,
and came to the Barneby place south of
Mullen in 1906.

They started married life on Carl's home-
stead where they lived until 1928. Seven of
their 11 children were born there; Kenneth,
Doris, Beth, Jane, Shirley, Carol & Harriett.

They sold their livestock in 1928 and spent
a year in Wyoming on the S.O. Simonson
place, then returned to Cherry County
northwest of Mullen to the Miller place.
Patsy and Gwendolyn were born here.

Carl and Elliott Lowe formed a ranch
partnership in 1930 and worked together
until 1946. Lowe owned the Mullen
Hardware Store. They moved to what be-
came the Marvin Cox place 25 miles north-
west of Mullen and then seven miles north to
what became the Carver Ranch. Audrey was
born here.

In 1938 Carl and June moved to a new
home when Elliott Lowe bought what became
the Wilbert Ericksen ranch 20 miles north of
Seneca, Nebraska. Carl Jr. was born here,
where the family lived until 1946 when the
Lowe and Simonson partnership was dissol-
ved.

They moved to Mullen and purchased the
Jennings house, where they spent their
remaining years. In 1965 they celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary. Carl died
May 13, 1971 and June died May 25, 1973.
Most of their children remained in the area.

Kenneth married June Anders in 1940 and
they ranched north of Seneca and later near
Thedford, Nebraska. Their children are
Bernard and Carla. Kenneth died Oct. 18,
1962.

Doris married Clarence Spilker and both
were Public Accountants in Omaha, Nebras-
ka until their recent retirement. They have
a daughter, Stephanie.

Beth married Leroy Anders in 1940 and
they ranched north of Mullen. Leroy died
Sept. 10, 1973. Their children are Richard,
Charles, Cheryl and Gary. Beth married
Frank Harding and they live in Mullen.

Jane married Bill Hodges and until their
recent retirement, they owned the Conoco
Station in Thedford. Their sons are Ronald,
Lloyd, Mike and Dan.

Shirley married Don Moran and they
ranched until 1971 when they bought the
liquor store and drive-in in Mullen. Don died
June 30, 1976. Their sons are Larry and
Terry. Shirley married Glen Nutter and lives
near Thedford.

Carol married Billy Taylor and they live
near Ainsworth, Nebraska where they've
ranched for a number of years. Their children
are Carolyn, Diane and Willie. Diane died in
an accident in 1972.

Harriett married Kenny Phipps and they
have lived all their married life on the
Raymond Phipps ranch near Whitman,
Nebraska. Their children are Barbara,
Wanda and Jerry Dean. Jerry died at age 12
in 1968.

Patsy married Leland Johnston and they
live near Thedford where they are involved
in ranching, as well as the real estate &
auction business. Their children are Douglas,
Steven Jerri Ann, Kelli and Lisa.

Gwendolyn Ruth, born in 1932 died of
pneumonia at age 3.

Audrey married Clarence Walz in 1964, an
Arthur, Nebraska rancher until his death in
1965. She married George McPeak and had
two daughters, Kathy and Alicia. She and her
daughters live in Mullen.

Carl married Peggy Maire and they ran-
ched north Mullen. They now live near St.
Paul, Nebraska. Their children are Tammy,
John and Shane.