Helen Marie Simley

The funeral Mass will be livestreamed at: https://www.ourlivingwater.org/helensimley.html

Helen “Lee” Marie Simley of Willmar, passed away on September 18, at the Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.   Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Lee was born to Art and Carol Thielges on March 9, 1949, in Canby, Minnesota. As a child, Lee grew up in Huron, South Dakota and Tracy, Minnesota. She was united in matrimony with her beloved husband Paul Simley on March 9 of 1974. The couple shared many loving years together, making their home in Fargo, North Dakota, and later Perham, MN. Lee and Paul were known and loved by their many family and friends for their outgoing and generous nature. They loved nothing more than sharing happy times with their loved ones and always opened their doors for others to gather and enjoy their warm company.

While living in Fargo, Lee and Paul served as host families for foreign exchange students for several years. From this experience they met Andi and Krissi, who they loved like their own children and remained close with through the years.

Lee was a devoted Catholic. She loved to travel and visit countries across the world. She loved sports, and especially football, as a dedicated fan of the Minnesota Vikings and the NDSU Bison. She loved her pets, including her dogs Buffy and Spanky. She enjoyed building her collections of hanging window prisms, Dayton’s Santa Bears, and souvenirs from her travels around the globe. Most of all, Lee will be remembered and missed as a joyous woman who loved to share her joy with others.

Lee is survived by her brother Patrick (Milly) Thielges of Marshall, MN; nieces and nephews Melissa Cornelisen, Bryon, Anthony, Kimberly, Shane, and Moriah Thielges, and their families; her host children, Kristina Worlitz of Hamburg, Germany, and Andreas Stoll-Schuldig of Bern, Switzerland; siblings-in-law Luther (Paula) Simley, David (Sandy) Simley, Kathy (Gene) Neset, Faye (Lon) Eastvold, and Cindy (Bob) Brinkley, and their families; and many beloved friends

She was preceded in death by her husband Paul Simley, parents Arthur and Caroline Thielges, and brother Steven Thielges.