Sharon Sims

Sharon Rae Sims (Tollerud) was born on January 19th, 1941 in Jamestown, North Dakota to parents Vernon and Dagny Tollerud (Johnson). Sharon passed away peacefully in Crookston, MN on July 6th, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.

Sharon was baptized in Jamestown, ND and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1959, attended the University of North Dakota for two years, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Moorhead State University in 1963.

On December 21st, 1963 Sharon was united in marriage to Jim Sims at the First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN. To this union two children were born, Sue and Steve. In following Jim’s coaching and teaching career the family lived in Eagle Bend, MN, Moorhead, MN, Thief River Falls, MN, Crookston, MN, and back to Thief River Falls, MN, in 1995.

Sharon taught first grade for several years in the school districts of Henning, Moorhead, Newfolden, Red Lake Falls and Mentor. She worked at the Crookston DAC for eleven years and enjoyed teaching Sunday School for much of her life. She was a member of the University of Minnesota-Crookston Faculty Women and the Thief River Falls Jaycees.

Sharon loved summers at the lake, spending endless hours under the sun enjoying time with family and friends. Later in life that love extended to winters on the ocean while visiting her son in California and taking long walks along the coast. She also loved dancing, cross-country skiing, reading and talking, especially talking. But most dear to Sharon was watching her grandkids participate in school activities, even if that meant no winter trips to California.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; brother, Boyd Tollerud; and sister-in-law, Wanda Snobl. She is survived by children, Sue Tiedemann of Euclid MN and Steven (Megan) Sims of Los Angeles, CA; and three grandchildren: Bobby of East Grand Forks, MN, Ally of Los Angeles, CA, and Catherine of Tempe, AZ. She also leaves her sister, Sandy Matas of Edina MN; brothers and sisters-in-law: Dan (Mary) Snobl of Deer Lake, MN, John (Barb) Snobl of Bagley, MN, Jerry (Linda) Snobl of Dixon, MO, Carol (Rick) Walker of Hot Springs, AR, Dixi (Bill) Johnson of Anaconda, MT, and Doug (Marlee) Snobl of Grand Forks, ND; together with many nieces and nephews. May God bless the memory of Sharon Rae Sims.

The memorial service celebrating Sharon’s life will be held at 2:00pm, Sunday, July 17, 2022, at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston with The Rev. Michael Ozaki, officiating. Visitation with the family will be for one hour prior to the service. A graveside committal service will follow at Oakdale Cemetery, Crookston, where Sharon and Jim will be buried together. The services will be livestreamed by going to Sharon’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. Messages of condolence may also be shared with the family on the same site.