Myrtle M. Simmerman

Myrtle M. Simmerman, 81, of Ogallala, passed away June 9, 2026, at Ogallala Community Hospital in Ogallala, Nebraska.

Myrtle was born August 12, 1944, in Holdredge, Nebraska, to Harold R. and Elvera L. (Jacobson) Larson. She grew up on the family farm, where they kept dairy cows, and she often spoke of milking cows and doing chores as a girl and treasuring that upbringing. Myrtle earned her bachelor's degree, attending Kearney State and Chadron State Colleges. On December 20, 1964, she married Delmar "Dick" Simmerman.

Myrtle spent much of her career in education, teaching in country schools across the area. Her first teaching job was on a reservation near Valentine, Nebraska. After her years in the country schools, she worked at Eaton's in Kearney, an auto parts manufacturing plant, where she was a supervisor for many years. Music was a lifelong joy. She played piano across all kinds of genres and kept an extensive record collection. Myrtle also had a notable fondness for Burt Reynolds, which her family often teased her about. Myrtle was proud of her Swedish heritage all her life, and always had a weakness for sweets. She enjoyed sewing and scrapbooking. Travel was a great pleasure, especially trips with her grandchildren, whom she took on a special trip every year. Her grandchildren, Dalton, Alexandria Molzahn, and Shane, were her pride and joy, and she devoted herself to traveling to all of their events over the years.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; her parents; and her sisters, Doris and Marilyn.

Survivors include her son, Dell (Ashton) Simmerman of Ogallala; her daughter, Joy (Marc) Howard of Arizona; three grandchildren, Dalton, Alexandria (Taylor), and Shane; her sister, Carol Reeves of Texas; and her brother, Ronald (Arlys) Larson.

A Celebration of Life Open House will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala. A private family interment will be at the Ogallala Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in Myrtle's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.