Kevin Sherman Simonson, 61, of Glencoe, Minnesota, died on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, at GlenFields Living With Care after a 28-month battle with a cancerous brain tumor.

Kevin was born to Beverly (Gieser) and Sherman Simonson on Aug. 2, 1958, in Rapid City, South Dakota, and baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rapid City on Aug. 23, 1958. He was confirmed at Evanger Lutheran Church on May 6, 1973.

Kevin graduated from Hayfield High School in 1976 and from the University of Minnesota, Crookston, in 1979. He worked as a sports reporter for the Hayfield Herald and was a reporter for the Guillotine (a wrestling magazine). Kevin and Linda owned and published The Hancock Record at Hancock, Minnesota. Since 1987, Kevin managed Hardees and Burger King restaurants in Minnesota and South Dakota. He was named “Manager of the Year” for them several times.  Kevin was inducted into the Dave Erickson Wrestling Hall of Fame in Hayfield, Minnesota, and Wrestling Fan of the Year for Hayfield, Park Rapids, Lester Prairie, and at Glencoe/Silver Lake. The MN Wrestling Coaches Association named him Section Assistant Coach of the Year in 2019.

Kevin married Linda Moon on Oct. 22, 1983, in Hayfield. They began hosting foreign exchange students in 1986, sharing their home with 19 young men from around the world over the years! They loved to travel to Mexico and Hawaii and visited numerous students in Brazil and Germany.

He was an avid sports fan, and wherever they lived, he followed the local high school teams, in addition to the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves and Gophers.  Kevin kept “the book” for many, many wrestling meets, and did “stats” for the high school football teams.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Linda; parents, Beverly and Sherman Simonson; sister, Lynn (Tom) Meyer, and children Ryker and Syrena; brother, Shawn (Tami) Simonson and children, Zach and Noah; aunt, ReNeta LaBarron; uncle, Richard Gieser; in-laws, Betty and Frank Moon, Deb and Len Oelkers, Wendy and Scott Moon, plus Kay and Jeff Moon; nieces and nephews, Bryan and Jen Oelkers (children Claire, Maya and Isaac), Brent and Kristine Oelkers (children, Eric and Patrick), Brandon and Sarah Oelkers (son, Emmett), Braeden Oelkers, Jenna Moon, Jordan and Zoe Moon, Zac Moon and fiancé’ Drea Griffith and Tyler Moon and fiancé’ Amy Greene; and community friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, at Christ Lutheran Church in Glencoe. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at Christ Lutheran Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at his home church of Evanger Lutheran, near Sargeant, Minnesota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Sunday at the church. Inurnment will follow at the church cemetery. Kevin loved his Panthers, so please feel free to wear purple or black or GSL apparel to the visitation and/or the Celebration of Life service. Memorials are preferred to Christ Lutheran Church, Evanger Lutheran, Relay for Life, or to the donor’s choice.