A.W. "Wally" Simmons

A.W. “Wally” Simmons, 85, of West Fargo, ND, died Monday, February 22, 2016 at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.

“I was born July 22, 1930 at a farm home two miles north of Martha, Oklahoma. I was the youngest of three sons. My parents were Arthur Wood and Lena Mae (Miller) Simmons. My family moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma in February of 1933. I continued to reside there, on a farm until 1938, when my family moved into town. I attended school in “town” and at St. Joseph’s Academy.
I met the “Girl Next Door”, Shirley Mae Humphrey when she moved from Denver, Colorado in 1944. We were married in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 25, 1947. We lived in the area until August of 1950. We then moved to Fargo, ND. We made the trip in a 1938 Ford Coupe towing a trailer that I had built. We both found work immediately in Fargo and never had to look back. With a few exceptions, my work was in trucking, or transportation. I was a Fargo Policeman from 1954 until 1962, and in trucking full time from then. I was employed by DMS Health Group for 30 years.
We had one son, Roy Arthur Simmons. He survives and lives in Moorhead, MN and is married to Karen Lende Simmons.

Shirley passed away in 2003. Roy, Karen, two nephews, one niece, and some scattered cousins are my only survivors. I had a few good friends and some wonderful neighbors who made my life a bit easier after I became ill in 2013. I was diagnosed as having Multiple Myeloma Cancer at that time. From that time, I spent a lot of time in hospitals, nursing homes, etc.

I did many, perhaps most, of the things I wanted to do. I drove a Race Car for several seasons. I golfed for a time, until my bad health prevented further play. I loved to drive and travel, so I had the perfect occupation. I was very proud to say I had been in 48 states, missing only Hawaii and Alaska. I also travelled in 5 Canadian Provinces.

Now is the time…”