Beverly Jo (Anstey) Simmons

Beverly Jo Simmons was an incredibly loving and kind, mother, grandmother and friend, who left us too soon, on Saturday, April 9, 2022, sharing 78 wonderful years with those that loved her.  She was born in June of 1943, to Conrad and Beulah (Stone) Anstey in Hartland, Wisconsin, where she grew up.  After high school, she attended college and became a teacher.  She met her husband, James Simmons, and they were married in 1968.  Beverly and James made their home in Minnesota and lived in Blaine, where they raised their daughter, Laura.  Beverly worked with the University of MN Extension Department, helping students from all over the world.  She was an avid reader, a great philanthropist--giving to many causes and those in need, and was especially supportive of early childhood development. She was a strong, independent woman with a “pioneer stock” and yet was an accepting, caring woman, who, if you were lucky to know or interact with her, touched your life for the better.  Beverly loved nothing simpler than a sunny day and sharing her morning coffee with her daughter.

She will be forever missed and cherished by her daughter, Laura (Ben Ellsworth) Simmons of Red Wing and her grandchildren Jacob & Emily Antinozzi and Madeleine Antinozzi.  She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, Dwight & Greg Anstey and her beloved husband, James Simmons.

A gathering and celebration of Beverly’s life will take place on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, with a visitation starting at 1 p.m. followed by a service at 2 p.m.  Memorials can be made in Beverly’s name to  Twin Cities PBS: TPT (one of her cherished organizations for early childhood development programs): https://www.tpt.org/give/#O-N