Don C. Simpson

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker” and so God made a Farmer. Somebody who’d laugh, then sigh and then reply with smiling eyes when his grandson says, “he wants to spend his life doing what Granpa does.” And on April 12, 1953, a new farmer was born.

 Don C. Simpson was born to Earl Francis Simpson and Lillian Christensen Simpson. He was also welcomed by his brother and sister, Rex and Ann.

 His Grandpa Bud put him on a tractor at four years old and told him to drive to the other end of the field and his Grandma would be there to meet him. And that is where his love of farming and tractors began. Dad learned a lot about farming and good hard work. He was with his grandpa all the time doing whatever he did. He doesn’t ever remember his grandpa telling him that he couldn’t go with him.

 Being on the tractor is what he loved the most. The tractor gave him the most comfort as it made him think of his dad and grandpa and was proud to still work and live on the land that his grandpa Bud started. At nine years old he was able to run the hay baler and thought that was the greatest. In 7th grade he started helping Jim Penman with chopping corn. On the 2nd day of working, he was told to take the truck back to the corn field and loved that he got to drive the corn truck. What a bonus!! 

Dad’s love of tractors and farming never faded. He had the honor of working alongside his Uncle Dale Christensen as well as Frank Rawson. He stayed busy helping on three different farms, all with his favorite Allis Chalmers tractors.

 At 16, he went with his dad and bought his first car. A 1956 Chevy– red and white in color. He worked that summer to pay it off and help his dad rebuild the engine, fix up the interior and had his brother Rex repaint it a two-tone blue. Jared now owns that car.

 Dad attended Hooper Elementary, Roy Jr High and graduated from Roy High in 1971.

Shortly after graduation he got married and soon welcomed his first born, Jared into the world. Four more amazing kids, Rabecca, Rachel, Haley and Cade would join over the next several years.

Dad started working for Cream O’ Weber Dairy in 1973 and was there for 18 years. Some of us remember being able to visit him and getting fresh cheese curds off the salt table. 

 After the dairy closed, he worked for Roger Rawson for two years and then started at Weber School District in Maintenance for 20 years, retiring in 2013.

 Dad married the love of his life, best friend, and travel companion, Mary Luddington Langmann Simpson in 1989. She brought with her three wonderful daughters, Toby, Angela and Jenny that he loved like his own and the Crazy Bunch was born.

 Dad and Mary loved to travel. They took their first cruise in 2004 and caught the bug. There were many cruises and other trips to other parts of the world or simply in their 5th wheel and ATV with family, friends or just the two of them. They loved that retirement gave them the opportunity to take as long as a vacation as they wanted. Sometimes being gone for more than a month if it wasn’t during the harvest.

 Dad’s passion was always farming and something he would have loved to do full time. Most of his free time was spent out in the field. Even driving down the street he would look at everyone else’s corn rows to see if they were straight. Several of us kids still do that today. He started Simpson Custom Farming and was able to do that for many years. Any excuse to be in his one of beloved Allis Chalmers tractors. He still has tractors that were owned by his grandpa, dad and Uncle Dale. When he started his custom farming, he bought a Case. It may not have been orange, but he sure enjoyed the cab and air conditioning it provided.

 Dad’s love of tractors has been passed down to his grandsons and even great grandsons. Each of his kids’ families was given a pedal tractor so his grandkids would have tractors from the start. Dad will always be remembered for his collection of pedal and model tractors at his house. He had his first pedal tractor restored that he got when he was little and is proudly on display. It is however, his first and only John Deere tractor he owns.

 Dad was always up for an adventure. Even if it involved being cramped in the back seat of sedan to help bring his grandson back from Virginia. He didn’t complain once but did not like it when we followed what google maps told us to do versus the road atlas he had in his hand. He trusted his atlas much more. 

 Dad was always happy to provide service to everyone. If you needed help getting something done, he was always there. Especially if it involved him needing his tractor to get it done. In the winter months, he always made sure that all his neighbors or anyone else in need had their driveways cleared first thing in the morning. He would always be giving advice on the best way to complete a project and helped get the project done.

 Dad loved having family gatherings and traditions. Whether it was 2nd Sunday dinner, Thanksgiving with our annual Turkey Shoot or the Money tree at Christmas, Dad and Mother Mary always put so much effort into the traditions they created for our family. These are the traditions we hope to carry on.

 Dad was excited to become a great grandpa and told everyone of his new title. His first two grandsons, Brandon and Cort, were the ones who gave him his first two great grandsons, Mālama and Jettson.

 He was proud of his heritage and even more proud that he has kids and grandkids who are just as proud and have a desire to keep it going. Dad, we will continue the strong legacy as family and continue to make you proud.

 On July 19th, 2024, God called this Farmer home.

 Dad is survived by his loving wife Mary, his kids: Jared (Stacie) Simpson, Toby Gunn, Rabecca (Zack) Johnson, Rachel (Tad) Bybee, Angela Langmann (Patrick Kane), Haley (Neil) Kraaima, Jenny Langmann and Cade (Gail) Simpson. His grandkids: Whitney, Cort, Breelyn, Brandon, Mitch, Taden, Paileigh, Kenley, Camry, Brady, Nicki, Evan, Cy, Tristyn, Xander, Sadee and Sydney. And his great grandsons Mālama and Jettson.

 Preceded in death by his parents, Lillian and Earl, his brother Rex and his son-in-law Matthew Gunn. 

 In lieu of flowers, Come buy my hay!

 A viewing and visitation will be held at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South on Thursday July 25, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held Friday July 26, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the Shannondoah Ward, 5375 S 5900 W Hooper, with a viewing from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

 Interment, Hooper Cemetery.