Scott Simmonds

A graveside service will be held for Retired Lt. Colonel Scott Simmonds, 57, of South Heart, at 2:00 p. m. CST, Thursday, January 21, 2016 at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan. Military Honors will be presented by the Mandan American Legion Post and North Dakota National Guard. In accordance with Scott’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A funeral Mass will be held at 3:00 p. m. MST, Friday, January 22, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, South Heart with Father Bill Ruelle celebrating. A time of gathering will follow hosted by the St. Mary’s Christian Mothers. Scott passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, on Monday, January 18, 2016, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Scott was born the son of Dr. James F. Simmonds and Thelma “Toni” (Dawson) Simmonds on June 19, 1958 in Anderson, IN. He graduated from Daleville High School in 1976 as class valedictorian. Scott then studied criminal justice at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, earning his BA with distinction. He then went to serve our country with the US Air Force, 8 years active duty and 17 years in reserve. Scott served as an ICBM Launch Officer at Minot AFB from 1981-1986 and from 1987-2003 –Security and Services (AFS 34M3) career field. Scott served at the Grand Forks AFB, later being deployed to Desert Storm (1990-1991), Bosnia (1997-1998), and to Saudi Arabia in 2000. In 2003, he was activated for the Iraq War until his honorable discharge as Lieutenant Colonel. He was very proud to be a veteran. Scott married Debi Dukart on October 29, 2007 in New Castle, IN. They moved to her home town of South Heart in 2012, where he worked for the US Postal Service until his death. He had seven years of experience in the correctional field and 10 years of experience in retail management in both the military and civilian environments. Scott was a gun enthusiast and enjoyed reading about our patriotic heritage and was an avid supporter of the US Constitution. Scott is survived by his wife, Debi, daughter of Christ and Eileen Dukart of South Heart; sister, Ginger of Milton, IN; aunt, Mary McFarland of Noblesville, IN; brother, Christopher of IN; step-son, Michael Kulish and his son Hayden; step-daughter, Kari (Rico) Kulish and her daughter, Serenity. He was preceded in death by his father and mother.


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Burial Date: January 21, 2016
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Graveside Services: Thursday: North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND