Orville Laverne Simonton

Orville Simonton, 80, of Gering died Monday, November 16, 2009 at his home. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 20, 2009 at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel with Pastor Michael Stein officiating. Interment will be in West Lawn Cemetery with military rites by Nebraska Army National Guard. Friends may call at the funeral home between 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Thursday. Orville was born November 11, 1929 in Carlyle, IL to Lewis and Glenda (Meyer) Simonton. He grew up and graduated from high school in Carlyle. He entered the Army April 29, 1948 and was honorably discharged September 25, 1951. He married Betty Rankin in 1951 and to this union three children, Ronald, Valerie, and Beth Ann were born. This marriage ended in divorce. He married Blanche Mae Harris in 1957and of this union three children were born Diana, LeRoy and Cindy. They lived in Chicago and Bolingbrook, IL until 1976 when they moved to Higley, AZ. They moved to Gering in 2004. Orville loved to go to yard sales, fishing, gardening, and in earlier years enjoyed trapping and hunting. He is survived by his children: Dr. Ronald Simonton, Longview, TX, Valerie Porter, Salem, IL, Diana Simonton, Gering, NE, LeRoy Simonton, Phoenix, AZ, and Cindy Trapp, Gering, NE; 14 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren; brother Ralph Simonton, Belleville, IL; sister: Joyce Tischler, Carlyle, IL; uncle Raymond Meyer, Aztec, NM and aunts Emmy Turner and Tommy Meyer both of Carlyle, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 wives, daughter Beth Ann Northcuff and 2 brothers Lewis and Lawrence.