SIMONSON, PATRICK AND WANDA (PRIEST)

by Wanda Priest Simonson

Entry F391 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Pat and Wanda Simonson and their sons,
Aaron, Michael, and Nick, ranch north of
Seneca, on land leased from Pat's uncle, Jim
Miller, and on the John Barent place, which
they also lease.

Patrick Thomas is the third son ofJack and
Kitty Simonson. He was born in Mullen,
1951, and spent his childhood on the
ranch in southern Cherry County. He attend-
ed the Cherry school, District #66, and
Mullen Elementary and High School, gradu-
ating in 1969. Patalso attended college at
McCook Junior College and North Platte
Junior College, finishing a two year course in
1971.

After college, Pat lived in Mullen and
worked in the family ranching business. In
1974, on November 2, Pat and Wanda Priest,
daughter of Hermel and Phyllis Priest, were
married in North Platte. They moved to the
Miller ranch which they were leasing. They
have lived there since, except during the
summers they spent at the Leonard Eriksen
ranch north of Mullen which they leased for
a few years.

Their family includes Aaron John, born
1978, Michael LaVerne, whose
birthday is 1980; and Nick
Mitchell, born on 1981. The boys
attend school in Mullen and keep their
parents busy with school and church activi-
ties and scouting.

Wanda was born while her parents lived
north of Tryon, and lived at Eugene, Mis-
souri, from 1955 through 1960, when the
family moved to North Platte. She graduated
from North Platte Senior High with the class
of 1968, and from North Platte Junior College
in 1970. She was a cost accountant with the
James E. Simon Construction Co. in North
Platte at the time of their marriage.