SIMONSON, JACK AND KITTY (MILLER)

by Wanda Simonson

Entry F390 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Kitty and Jack Simonson November 2, 1974

Jack Norris Simonson was born on Novem-
ber 2, 1919, at the home of his parents, Nels
Marcellus and Marguerite Alice (Stewart)
Simonson. He was the fourth child in their
family of five sons and three daughters.

Jack attended schools in both Cherry and
Hooker Counties, graduating in 1937 from
Hooker County High School.

On August 3, 1941, he was married to
Barbara Katherine Miller in Alliance, Neb-
raska. Kitty's parents were Jay Edward and
Katherine Barbara (Krueger) Miller of Sene-
ca, Nebraska. her parents were living in
Mullen at the time so their children could
attend school there. Kitty graduated in 1941.

Jay and Katie operated a dairy and a
restaurant in Mullen during this time. They
delivered dairy products around town as well
as using them in the cafe.

Nels Simonson had come to the area in
1906, from Newman Grove, Nebraska, with
his father, Simon O. Simonson, and his
brother, Sam. He filed a homestead in
Hooker County near the Middle Loup River.
He and his family ranched in both Hooker
and Cherry counties.

At the time of their marriage, Jack and
Kitty made their home on the river, just east
of his parents'. Then in 1945, they moved to
the Frank Le La Cheur ranch, 13 miles north
of Mullen, which they bought in partnership
with Jack's brother and wife, Jim and Ruby
Simonson. In later years Jack and Jim traded
land and the Le La Cheur place became solely
Jack and Kitty's. It remains part of their
ranching operation today.

Jack and Kitty lived on the ranch until
they moved to Mullen during the school year
in 1958, returning to the ranch for the
summer. They continued this until they built
their present home in the early 1970's.

Jack has been in ranching all his life with
his father, his brother, and now his sons.
Kitty began working in the school lunch
program when they began living in Mullen for
the school months, and became head cook.
She worked until health problems forced her
to limit her activities.

The Simonson's have three sons, and nine
grandchildren. Their sons attended schools
at Cherry County, District 66, and Mullen
Elementary and High Schools. They all
graduated from Mullen, also.

Their oldest son, Doug, lives in Fremont,
with his wife, Donna. Their children, Kevin,
Mark, and Kristine, are all in Lincoln. Kris
and Mark attend the University of Nebraska,
and Kevin, a Doane College graduate, is
employed there.

Joe, lives in Mullen and ranches. His
children Craig, Sid, and Brenda are living in
Denver, Colorado. Craig is attending college
at Boulder, and Brenda and Sid are in high
school.

Pat, their youngest, lives north of Seneca,
on the James Miller ranch, which he and Jack
lease. He and his wife, Wanda Priest, have
three sons, also. Aaron John, born in
1978; Michael LaVerne, born in
1980; and Nick Mitchell, in 1981.