Mabel Sims, 96 of Springfield

Funeral services will be 1:30 pm Wednesday, February 16, 2011at the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Springfield, with Pastor Dave Reck officiating. Burial will be in the Emanuel Cemetery, rural Springfield. Visitation will be at the church Tuesday from 1 to 5, with arrangements by Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Springfield.

Mabel Sims, daughter of William and Henrietta (VanderVeen) Romkema, was born September 8, 1914 on a farm west of Springfield, SD. She died Sunday, February 13, 2011 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Mabel attained the age of 96 years, five months and six days.

Mabel attended country school in Bon Homme County and graduated from Springfield High School. She attended Northwestern College in Orange City, IA for one year.

In the late thirties, Mabel moved to California seeking employment. She returned to Springfield to care for her ill parents from 1954 to 1956. After their deaths, Mabel returned to California and worked for Bell Telephone Company. She married J.C. Sims on October 19, 1958. Mabel retired after 20 years from Bell Telephone Company. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Kingman, AZ, where Mabel worked part time for the Chamber of Commerce. Her husband, J.C. died June 23, 1986. Mabel returned to Springfield in November of 1990. She moved to the Springfield Assisted Living Center in May of 2005 and later to the Good Samaritan Society in Tyndall on June 4, 2009.

Mabel was a member of the Baptist Church while living in California and Arizona. She transferred her membership to the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Springfield and also was a member of the Worship and Service Circle there.

Thankful for having shared her life are her sister-in-law, Phyllis Romkema of Springfield and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

Mabel was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and all of her siblings: Cornelius, Tena Louwerse, Minnie Huisman, Henry, Ernest, Jennie DeLeeuw, George, Peter and Raymond.