Ethel (Simonson) Christopher

Ethel Christopher (Simonson), 101, of Anaconda, died on Monday, April 19, 2021 at the Big Sky Senior Living Center in Butte.

Ethel was born in Anaconda, MT on November 16, 1919, to Sofia (Sophia) Peterson and Karl Gustaf George Simonson.

She attended local schools and graduated from Anaconda High School and she then attended Butte Business College.

She was very active in sports from childhood through high school in basketball, baseball, volleyball and was manager in school of stunts and tumbling.  She received awards in ice skating, racing and rope jumping.  She, with others, helped to organize the Girl’s Athletic Association (GAA) in the Anaconda High School.

Ethel worked for the F.W. Woolworth Company.  She then went to work for the Intermountain Transportation Company for 30 years as the payroll clerk until she retired.  She later went to work at the Galen State Hospital with credit for 19 years in the medical record department until it’s closure.  All this time, she enhanced her gifted knowledge.  She enjoyed taking adult educational classes offered in the area.

On May 24, 1953, she married her best friend, Lester Carl Christopher (Chris) at the First Lutheran Church, now the Hope Lutheran Church of Anaconda.  All of her family members were employed by the Anaconda Company (A.C.M.), also including her husband, Lester, as a carpenter.  After the Anaconda Thrift Center was organized, as a volunteer, she with her husband were the one reason for the real success of the program.

She enjoyed politics and proudly served as a judge for both school and general elections for over 40 years. 

She enjoyed fishing, square dancing, line dancing and ballroom dancing.  She was an avid reader and listener to classical music. She was a member of the Butte Pioneer Club, Arco Retirees Club of Butte, MT, American Legion Auxiliary #21 of Anaconda and a lifetime member of Hope Lutheran Church.

She was a past member of the Clerks Union, Amalgamated Association of Steel Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of American and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees A.F.L. CIO local 162.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lester on June 8, 1988, sister Olga Simonson Sayers, brother Carol Simonson, his wife and his daughters Ruth and Elinor.

Her remains are at Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home at her request and there will be no wake or visitation. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Ethel wanted everyone to know that she wrote her own obituary about her life. Per her request, there will be no services at this time.