Deon Marie Simon died on March 25, 2019, after a battle with cancer. Deon resided at St. Paul, MN, temporarily away from her Brookings home where she lived the past 40 years. She was born in Rapid City July 16, 1954, to Charley J Simon and Anna Marie Rozdal Simon.
Deon went to grade and high school in New Underwood where the family lived. During high school she worked summers at Jewell Cave in the Black Hills and explored the area. After graduating from Brookings State College, she spent a summer at Mesa Verde in Colorado. She married Mark Behrend January 17, 1987 in Brookings.
While Mark was attending Graduate School in Lincoln, NE. Deon worked at the Biology lab for the University of Lincoln, and as a chemist for Nebraska Agriculture Testing.
She put her Bachelor’s Degree to exceptional use for 35 years as the Senior Chemist in Animal Science for South Dakota State University. She was proud of achieving an Employee of the Month award.
Deon’s passion was quilting. She belonged to the Brookings Area Quilting Guild for many years and was the treasurer for a little over 4 years.
She attended many of the quilt guild Sew Days that were held at the Brookings Library. She loved the Batik fabric and her quilts were absolutely beautiful.
Deon gave many quilts to friends and family as gifts. Her favorite pastimes were photography, picnics and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her parents and infant brother, David. She is survived by her husband, Mark Behrend of Brookings, brother Alan Simon, sister Marcelle Simon, aunt Hellen (Don) Back, and aunt Lucy Wright, all from Rapid City, aunt Albertine Jensen of Spearfish, Uncle Edgar Simon of Owanka, and several cousins.
The funeral will be held at Kirk Funeral Home at Rapid City on Monday, April 1, 2019, and the burial will be at the Lakeside Cemetery north of Owanka, exit 90 at a later date.
