Betty Lou Simonson Gallagher, age 91, a 63 year resident of Arizona, and wife of the late George Edward Gallagher, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children and grandchildren on January 26, 2022 in Phoenix.
She was the daughter of the late Gilbert Theodore and Gertrude Ann (Nagle) Simonson. Betty was born in St Paul, Minnesota and grew up on the eastside. She was educated thru the 8th grade at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and later at Harding High School. While in high school she was an accomplished majorette who marched in Winter Carnival parades for Harding High and for the 3M Company. At age 19 she met George at Kirch and Gillis night club in St Paul on New Year's Eve 1949. They were married at Blessed Sacrament Church on October 14, 1950. Their 5 children were born in Minnesota and on September 9, 1958 the family moved to Arizona when George was transferred by his employer. Betty worked on occasion during her marriage when something special was planned such as a vacation trip to visit family in Minnesota. She worked in the cafeteria at Mohave Elementary School, at Motorola and Dickson Electronics on an assembly line, and as a cashier at Carl's Meat Market. But mostly she was a housewife taking great care of her husband and children.
George and Betty were married for 39 years. Together they enjoyed camping trips, and country western dancing. Following his death in November 1989 Betty made her home with her daughters and went to work part-time as a cashier at Munchies and More, a gift and sandwich shop, to occupy her time. Betty fully retired at age 75. Throughout her later years she enjoyed crocheting, trips to the casinos, playing Nintendo video games, keeping up with family and friends on her Facebook news feed, visits from her grandchildren, summer vacations in St Paul and a trip to Scotland.
Betty is survived by daughters Cheryl Gallagher who in the last months was her 24x7 caregiver, Bonnie (Larry) Osborn; sons Joe (Rosemary) Gallagher and Alan (Laurie) Gallagher, all of Phoenix. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren, Ty, Michelle, Sherri Jo, Shawn, Kyle (Diamond), Andrew (Caitlyn), Melanie and great grandchildren Ethan, Braxton, Malachi and Remi. Betty is also survived by her loving brother Walter Simonson and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly and they loved her in return. She is also survived by honorary daughters Lynn Browne-Wagner RN, MSN and Bonnie Davis Pastorino who were of immeasurable help during Betty's last months. In addition to her husband and parents, Betty was predeceased by infant son Dale Edward (1955), sisters Lorraine (Stanley) Waczak, Vivian (Lloyd) Buzay, Margaret (Joe) Dube, brothers Gilbert "Bud" (Mary) Simonson and John "Jack" (Marge) Simonson.
A memorial service and interment will be held at the National Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd in Phoenix. Gifts in her memory may be made to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E Flower St, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Special thank you from the family to Hospice of the Valley nurse Bobbee.
"Mom, you will be dearly missed more than we can express. Your presence will always be with us. Thank you for being such an incredible role model and for loving us unconditionally. We hope that we have made you proud. Lovingly, Cheryl, Joe, Alan and Bonnie xoxox"
She was the daughter of the late Gilbert Theodore and Gertrude Ann (Nagle) Simonson. Betty was born in St Paul, Minnesota and grew up on the eastside. She was educated thru the 8th grade at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and later at Harding High School. While in high school she was an accomplished majorette who marched in Winter Carnival parades for Harding High and for the 3M Company. At age 19 she met George at Kirch and Gillis night club in St Paul on New Year's Eve 1949. They were married at Blessed Sacrament Church on October 14, 1950. Their 5 children were born in Minnesota and on September 9, 1958 the family moved to Arizona when George was transferred by his employer. Betty worked on occasion during her marriage when something special was planned such as a vacation trip to visit family in Minnesota. She worked in the cafeteria at Mohave Elementary School, at Motorola and Dickson Electronics on an assembly line, and as a cashier at Carl's Meat Market. But mostly she was a housewife taking great care of her husband and children.
George and Betty were married for 39 years. Together they enjoyed camping trips, and country western dancing. Following his death in November 1989 Betty made her home with her daughters and went to work part-time as a cashier at Munchies and More, a gift and sandwich shop, to occupy her time. Betty fully retired at age 75. Throughout her later years she enjoyed crocheting, trips to the casinos, playing Nintendo video games, keeping up with family and friends on her Facebook news feed, visits from her grandchildren, summer vacations in St Paul and a trip to Scotland.
Betty is survived by daughters Cheryl Gallagher who in the last months was her 24x7 caregiver, Bonnie (Larry) Osborn; sons Joe (Rosemary) Gallagher and Alan (Laurie) Gallagher, all of Phoenix. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren, Ty, Michelle, Sherri Jo, Shawn, Kyle (Diamond), Andrew (Caitlyn), Melanie and great grandchildren Ethan, Braxton, Malachi and Remi. Betty is also survived by her loving brother Walter Simonson and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly and they loved her in return. She is also survived by honorary daughters Lynn Browne-Wagner RN, MSN and Bonnie Davis Pastorino who were of immeasurable help during Betty's last months. In addition to her husband and parents, Betty was predeceased by infant son Dale Edward (1955), sisters Lorraine (Stanley) Waczak, Vivian (Lloyd) Buzay, Margaret (Joe) Dube, brothers Gilbert "Bud" (Mary) Simonson and John "Jack" (Marge) Simonson.
A memorial service and interment will be held at the National Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd in Phoenix. Gifts in her memory may be made to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E Flower St, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Special thank you from the family to Hospice of the Valley nurse Bobbee.
"Mom, you will be dearly missed more than we can express. Your presence will always be with us. Thank you for being such an incredible role model and for loving us unconditionally. We hope that we have made you proud. Lovingly, Cheryl, Joe, Alan and Bonnie xoxox"
Betty Lou Simonson Gallagher, age 91, a 63 year resident of Arizona, and wife of the late George Edward Gallagher, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children and grandchildren on January 26, 2022 in Phoenix.
She was the daughter of the late Gilbert Theodore and Gertrude Ann (Nagle) Simonson. Betty was born in St Paul, Minnesota and grew up on the eastside. She was educated thru the 8th grade at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and later at Harding High School. While in high school she was an accomplished majorette who marched in Winter Carnival parades for Harding High and for the 3M Company. At age 19 she met George at Kirch and Gillis night club in St Paul on New Year's Eve 1949. They were married at Blessed Sacrament Church on October 14, 1950. Their 5 children were born in Minnesota and on September 9, 1958 the family moved to Arizona when George was transferred by his employer. Betty worked on occasion during her marriage when something special was planned such as a vacation trip to visit family in Minnesota. She worked in the cafeteria at Mohave Elementary School, at Motorola and Dickson Electronics on an assembly line, and as a cashier at Carl's Meat Market. But mostly she was a housewife taking great care of her husband and children.
George and Betty were married for 39 years. Together they enjoyed camping trips, and country western dancing. Following his death in November 1989 Betty made her home with her daughters and went to work part-time as a cashier at Munchies and More, a gift and sandwich shop, to occupy her time. Betty fully retired at age 75. Throughout her later years she enjoyed crocheting, trips to the casinos, playing Nintendo video games, keeping up with family and friends on her Facebook news feed, visits from her grandchildren, summer vacations in St Paul and a trip to Scotland.
Betty is survived by daughters Cheryl Gallagher who in the last months was her 24x7 caregiver, Bonnie (Larry) Osborn; sons Joe (Rosemary) Gallagher and Alan (Laurie) Gallagher, all of Phoenix. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren, Ty, Michelle, Sherri Jo, Shawn, Kyle (Diamond), Andrew (Caitlyn), Melanie and great grandchildren Ethan, Braxton, Malachi and Remi. Betty is also survived by her loving brother Walter Simonson and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly and they loved her in return. She is also survived by honorary daughters Lynn Browne-Wagner RN, MSN and Bonnie Davis Pastorino who were of immeasurable help during Betty's last months. In addition to her husband and parents, Betty was predeceased by infant son Dale Edward (1955), sisters Lorraine (Stanley) Waczak, Vivian (Lloyd) Buzay, Margaret (Joe) Dube, brothers Gilbert "Bud" (Mary) Simonson and John "Jack" (Marge) Simonson.
A memorial service and interment will be held at the National Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd in Phoenix. Gifts in her memory may be made to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E Flower St, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Special thank you from the family to Hospice of the Valley nurse Bobbee.
"Mom, you will be dearly missed more than we can express. Your presence will always be with us. Thank you for being such an incredible role model and for loving us unconditionally. We hope that we have made you proud. Lovingly, Cheryl, Joe, Alan and Bonnie xoxox"
She was the daughter of the late Gilbert Theodore and Gertrude Ann (Nagle) Simonson. Betty was born in St Paul, Minnesota and grew up on the eastside. She was educated thru the 8th grade at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and later at Harding High School. While in high school she was an accomplished majorette who marched in Winter Carnival parades for Harding High and for the 3M Company. At age 19 she met George at Kirch and Gillis night club in St Paul on New Year's Eve 1949. They were married at Blessed Sacrament Church on October 14, 1950. Their 5 children were born in Minnesota and on September 9, 1958 the family moved to Arizona when George was transferred by his employer. Betty worked on occasion during her marriage when something special was planned such as a vacation trip to visit family in Minnesota. She worked in the cafeteria at Mohave Elementary School, at Motorola and Dickson Electronics on an assembly line, and as a cashier at Carl's Meat Market. But mostly she was a housewife taking great care of her husband and children.
George and Betty were married for 39 years. Together they enjoyed camping trips, and country western dancing. Following his death in November 1989 Betty made her home with her daughters and went to work part-time as a cashier at Munchies and More, a gift and sandwich shop, to occupy her time. Betty fully retired at age 75. Throughout her later years she enjoyed crocheting, trips to the casinos, playing Nintendo video games, keeping up with family and friends on her Facebook news feed, visits from her grandchildren, summer vacations in St Paul and a trip to Scotland.
Betty is survived by daughters Cheryl Gallagher who in the last months was her 24x7 caregiver, Bonnie (Larry) Osborn; sons Joe (Rosemary) Gallagher and Alan (Laurie) Gallagher, all of Phoenix. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren, Ty, Michelle, Sherri Jo, Shawn, Kyle (Diamond), Andrew (Caitlyn), Melanie and great grandchildren Ethan, Braxton, Malachi and Remi. Betty is also survived by her loving brother Walter Simonson and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly and they loved her in return. She is also survived by honorary daughters Lynn Browne-Wagner RN, MSN and Bonnie Davis Pastorino who were of immeasurable help during Betty's last months. In addition to her husband and parents, Betty was predeceased by infant son Dale Edward (1955), sisters Lorraine (Stanley) Waczak, Vivian (Lloyd) Buzay, Margaret (Joe) Dube, brothers Gilbert "Bud" (Mary) Simonson and John "Jack" (Marge) Simonson.
A memorial service and interment will be held at the National Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd in Phoenix. Gifts in her memory may be made to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E Flower St, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Special thank you from the family to Hospice of the Valley nurse Bobbee.
"Mom, you will be dearly missed more than we can express. Your presence will always be with us. Thank you for being such an incredible role model and for loving us unconditionally. We hope that we have made you proud. Lovingly, Cheryl, Joe, Alan and Bonnie xoxox"
