Tara Simonson, 49
Tara Renae Simonson, 49, of Brandon, S.D., passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family and friends on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, after courageously battling ovarian cancer for nearly three years. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at Risen Savior Catholic Church in Brandon. A Liturgical Wake Service and Recitation of the Holy Rosary will follow the visitation at church. Please wear teal colored clothing or your Team Tara t-shirts to the visitation. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, also at Risen Savior Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for college expenses for Tara’s children. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.georgeboom.com
Tara was born on July 29, 1974 to Charles and Joyce Nedved in Mitchell, S.D. Tara graduated from Kimball High School in 1992 and went on to receive her degree in Mass Communications at Moorhead State University.
Tara met her husband Ben during college, and they were married on April 16, 1999. After Ben graduated from college, they moved to Eagan, Minn., where she supported Ben through chiropractic school.
Tara and Ben welcomed their first child, Ella Mae, on March 10, 2002. While in Eagan, they also welcomed their second child, Charles Benjamin on Sept. 11, 2003. In 2004, they relocated to Brandon and opened Splitrock Chiropractic Center. Shortly after, they welcomed Lily Ann on May 10, 2005.
Tara was employed at Wells Fargo until she became the CEO of Splitrock Chiropractic. She was essential to the success of their business, with her kind and compassionate personality. Tara’s natural ability to remember clients, their families, and their situations never went unnoticed. Every single time, Tara put others’ needs before her own.
Tara had multiple hobbies, most of which included spending time with friends and loved ones. She loved golfing, fishing, traveling, and going on walks with the dogs. She was a mentor at the school and participated in her children’s praying moms’ groups. Tara had a strong faith and was very active in her church, becoming very good friends with Father Andy over the past few years.
One of Tara’s most beautiful attributes was her ability to love everyone without judgment. Tara was a light to anyone she came in contact with. She always loved to laugh and have fun. She touched many lives with her loving, selfless, outgoing and generous personality. We are all better people having been a friend of Tara’s.
Tara is survived by her best friend and husband, Ben; their children, Ella, Charlie, Lily; their bulldog, Lola; her parents, Chuck and Joyce; her three siblings, Amber and Joe Lenz (Caden, Carter, and Lucas), C.R. and Jolene Nedved (Natalie and Gunner), and Tylene and Jeff Schwebach (Deegan and Bridger); parents-in-law, Rick and Gin Simonson; brothers-in-law, Stacy Simonson (Damon and Logan), and Corey and Michelle Simonson (Ava and Carter), Lee Leiferman and Cathy Woods; along with a multitude of loving family and friends.
Tara was preceded in death by Chet Nedved, Bernice Nedved, Joyce Nedved, Ernest Leiferman, Genevieve Leiferman, Paul Wirtjes, Blackie Simonson, and Hildreth Simonson; and Marley, their white lab.
When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live. -Stuart Scott
