Lori Anne Simpson, 43, Rapid City, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer.

Lori was born Nov. 18, 1967, in Fort Belvoir, Va., to Les and LeeAnna Thiel. Her early years were spent in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where Les worked for the Arabian American Oil company as an engineer. Growing up, she enjoyed travelling with her family and spending time with her favorite horse, Ashgar. In 1981, when Lori was 15, the family moved to Rapid City. In 1985, Lori graduated from St. Martin's Academy, where she was captain of the cheerleading squad.

She graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1989. While in college, she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority, and made many life-long friends. Her senior year, she met Mike Simpson. From then on, it was "Lori and Mike." They moved to Ann Arbor where she helped put Mike through law school, working as a medical office manager. They were married on Aug. 18, 1990. After law school, they moved to Walthill, Neb., where Lori worked in a medical clinic. She commuted to Vermillion and received her master's degree in hospital administration from USD in 1993.

Lori and Mike moved to Rapid City in 1995. They then started a family – Jake was born in 1997, Macy in 2000, Shila in 2001 and Jessa in 2003. Lori worked at Rapid City Regional Hospital for several years, until deciding to stay home full time with the kids.

Lori is survived by her husband, Mike, and children, Jake, Shila and Jessa; parents, Les and LeeAnna Thiel, Rapid City; sister and brother-in-law, Lisa and Gary Collins, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; aunt, Marty Jenner, Rapid City; uncle and aunt, Phil and Ann Anderson, Minneapolis; uncle and aunt, Jim and Tara Anderson, Lake Charles, La.; uncle, Jerry Thiel, Los Angeles; father and mother-in-law, John and Freya Simpson, Hamill; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Johanna Simpson, Sioux Falls; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kristina and Ken Spearman, Long Branch, N.J.; nephews, A.J. Collins, Drew Collins, and Jack Simpson; niece, Alana Spearman; and cousins, Jeff Ernst, Jen Zinnel, Kimberly Palmer, Dawn Sheldon, Beth Anderson and Bryan Anderson.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Macy; her aunt, Sally Ernst; and her grandparents, George and Dorothy Thiel and Mel and Margo Anderson.

Lori had a great sense of humor and her smile always lit up a room. She knew the words to every 70s and 80s song and usually was singing along. She made life-long friends in Saudi Arabia, Rapid City and everywhere in-between. People just loved being with Lori.

She loved traveling with her family. The "Simpson 5" traveled to Greece, Italy, Spain and Disneyworld, among other places. After she was diagnosed with cancer, she often said, "I'm so glad we took those trips with the kids." Last Christmas, she was able to show her kids the Dhahran neighborhood that she loved so much.

She had a special way with children. If she saw one, a hug was sure to follow. Kids flocked to Lori like the Pied Piper. She loved and cared about "her boys" and "her girls." She volunteered at school, helped disabled children ride horses at Suncatcher Academy, taught Sunday school, and was "team mom" for all her children's sports teams. She found her true calling as "team coordinator" for youth hockey teams. She helped organize and run two state hockey tournaments.

Above all, she loved her family and her children. She spent her days making life better for Mike and the kids. She had a special bond with her sister and her parents, who spent countless hours nursing and caring for her in the last months of her life.

Lori's life was short but filled with laughter and love. She just always "did the right thing." Her smile will live on forever. We will never forget her.

Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Canyon Lake Methodist Church, with Pastors Eric Grinager and Kim Bachman presiding.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Rushmore Hockey Association and/or Suncatcher Therapeutic Riding Academy.

Kirk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



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