Deloris Marie Demarais Simon

Lilah Crowe2021-03-08T14:47:51-06:00

Name: Deloris Marie Simon (Demarais)
Location of Birth: Bovey, Minnesota
Date of Birth: July 23, 1923
Date of Death: February 20, 2019
Parents: Horace Demarais & Esther (Deal) Demarais
High School and Class: 1941 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
College: 1943 Itasca Junior College, Coleraine, Minnesotae
Highest Rank: SK 2 (Storekeeper 2nd Class Petty Officer)
Branch: Navy
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: 1943
Place Sworn In: Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date of Discharge: 1946
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – December 3, 1943 – “STORE-KEEPER”. Deloris M. Demarais, 20, “Rt. 1, Bovey, has begun her preparation to release shore-stationed male storekeepers for sea duty with her recent enrollment in the Naval Training School for storekeepers on the Indiana University campus at Bloomington, Ind. Selection to the specialty school was made on the basis of her past civilian experience and “boot training” aptitude tests. At Indiana, she will receive expert instruction in storing, recording, reporting, requisitioning and invoicing stocks. Class room curriculum is supplemented with physical training and recreation periods. Advancement to the petty officer rate of storekeeper third class awaits the Woman Reservist upon graduation from the Indiana campus.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - February 18, 1944 – The petty officer rate of storekeeper third class was granted to Women Reservist Deloris M. Demarais, 20, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Horace H. Demarais of Bovey, in this week’s graduation ceremonies at the Wave Yeoman Naval Training School on the campus of Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. Selected for this specialty school on the basis of her “boot training” aptitude test scores and past civilian experience, the newly graduated petty officer completed a course of study which included property and financial accounting, typewriting, English and correspondence."

Newspaper art6icle: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - August 4, 1944 - "July 21, 1944. Dear Mrs. Dargan: I was very happy to receive your birthday card and also was very surprised. It certainly feels good to hear from someone you know from home. Although I am not far from home, I still miss the good times we used to have there. But I guess all the other ones in service and away from home feel the same as I do. I really enjoy reading the letters that the other mothers write to the people in service. I got a letter just recently from the Bovey Service Club, but I did not have time to answer it. So I hope you will tell the others that I am sorry that I did not answer sooner. It certainly is nice to be here in Minneapolis. Especially now that so much is going on here. The Aquatennial is now the main attraction in town. I hope to see at least one of the big parades, may even march in one if they decide to let the Waves march. I really would enjoy that. Also have been going to the Roller Derby and that is another real exciting sport. But I really wouldn't like to be those girls that compete in the game. It is a little too rough for me. Well, I have to close now so thanks again for all you have done and I hope everything is fine at home. Yours truly, Deloris Demarais."

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Deloris Demarais married Simon T. Simon in 1947 in Minnesota. The couple lived in Mounds View, Minnesota where they owned family businesses which included a grocery store, a liquor store and a sports shop on Hwy. 10 in Mounds View. Deloris even ran a root beer stand in the early days where she began her lifelong career as a food pusher! Besides food, her other interests included reading, fishing, playing cards, and watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and PGA golf on TV. In her later years, cooking shows on the Food Network were her favorites to watch.

Deloris Simon died in Mounds View, Minnesota and is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Section 27, Site 2327). She is survived by her eight children: Dianne Sawchuk (John), Lawrence (Koreen), James (Kathy), Theresa, Daniel (Wendy), Mary, Karen Edmond (Robert), and Susan (Diane Oberto); ten grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; brother, James “Tim” (Audrey); sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Simon.

Tribal Affiliation(s):