Alice Jane Simon (Olds)

Alice Jane (Olds) Simon passed away peacefully at her home in Lolo, Montana , on Thursday, April 24th 2013, after suffering from dementia.

Born in Butte, Montana on September 13, 1927, as the youngest of three to Edward and Ida Pearl Olds. Alice grew up in Butte, and graduated from Butte High School.

She was the first in her family to attend college at MSU, graduating with a BS Degree in Nursing from the first degreed Nursing program at Montana State Deaconess in 1950. Alice was very involved in her Sorority, Chi Omega during her time at MSU, the Order of Eastern Star and continued her involvement well after graduation as the Pan Hellinic Association President from 1959-1960.

During her Nursing rotations, she met the love of her life and her best friend, James G. Simon, whom she married on September 2nd, 1950. Following their marriage, Alice and James moved to Sacramento, California, where Alice worked as a Clinical Nurse. They lived in Sacramento for a short time until moving back to Montana to be closer to family in 1953. Returning to Montana they made their home in Great Falls, where Alice worked as the Head Nurse in Orthopedics at Deaconess Hospital, from 1953-1956. With the birth of her first child, Alice began working at the Great Falls Clinic as a Staff Nurse until 1963. At this time, Alice stepped away from her Nursing career for a few years to raise her two children until their primary years of school. Missing her involvement in the Nursing care arena, she began a career at the Cascade County Hospital (1963-1966), American Red Cross (1963-1966) as a volunteer, and then finally accepting a position at the Columbus Hospital as a Surgical Nurse from 1966 until she retired in 1981.

While at Columbus, Alice was a board member of the American Operating Room Nurse's Association (AORNA). Following her retirement , Alice relocated with her husband to Colstrip, Montana for his job. Missing her time involved in Nursing, she accepted a position as a Colstrip School Nurse working from 1982-1984. She and Jim moved to Missoula again with his job where Alice was again a surgical Nurse at Missoula General Hospital. Alice made the decision to retire in 1990 with her husband. Beyond her love for her Nursing career, Alice cherished her family. She was heavily involved in sharing her love of music, entertainment, and reading with both her son and daughter. She and her husband loved to travel in their RV's, and became Snow Birds for many years, meeting new friends and enjoying life, and their four grandchildren. She filled her downtime with many volunteer opportunities, including American Red Cross, Diabetes Society, Hospice, and the Voter Registration Board. Alice loved to dance, entertain, exercise, share family time and shop! She will be missed by everyone that had the treasure of being part of her life, but is most cherished by her surviving family consisting of husband and life partner James Simon, Lolo, Montana; son David Simon (and family) of Draper, Utah; daughter Jayme Wendland (and family) of Portland, Oregon. Your smile, laughter and zest for life, Alice and mom, you will be missed!

A celebration of life will be shared with all of those who had the pleasure of being part of her life at a later date. Sunset Memorial Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Read Alice Simon's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.