Bev Sime

Beverly “Bev” (Mortenson) Sime, 79, of Milbank, SD, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health in Milbank.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Central Church in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. prior to the service on Monday. Rev. Michael Brossman and Levi Waddell will officiate. 

Bev was born on May 21, 1946, to Cloyd and Lucille (Drake) Mortenson. Bev grew up on a farm near Marietta, MN, as the youngest of six children. She was later joined by two stepsisters. She and her siblings all had nicknames growing up, and even though her nickname, “Honey”, didn’t stick, it fit her sweet demeanor. During high school, Bev was a cheerleader and was fond of showing off her cartwheels into adulthood before her knees gave out.

Bev married her loving husband, Orman “Morrie” Sime, a Revillo farm boy, on July 10, 1965. Bev and Morrie raised three kids, Stacy, Dean and Kent, in Revillo. Despite losing her mother at the age of five, her greatest joy and focus in life was being a mother and especially a grandmother. She would do anything for her grandkids, often playing short order cook to make sure everyone got their favorite dish.

Bev worked as a waitress, a seamstress, and at the Big Stone cheese plant before starting at the Watertown Target when it opened. After 24 years as a dedicated and reliable employee, she retired from Target. She made lifelong friends at all these jobs and loved to stay in touch and have lunch with them.

Bev and Morrie moved to Watertown in 2002 and to Milbank in 2020 to be closer to family and grandkids while they grew up. Bev enjoyed attending as many of the grandkids’ activities as she could. The four grandkids kept her busy with dance, track, soccer, football, basketball, livestock shows, and birthday parties.

Bev loved flowers and had a green thumb. She tended a large vegetable garden while in Revillo and switched to flowers once they moved. She loved to have lots of flowers decorating the front of their house and enjoyed it when neighbors and passersby complimented the beautiful arrangements and blooms.

Bev was the center of her family, welcoming daughters-in-law and friends like they were her own. She loved getting everyone together, and whenever asked what she wanted, the answer was always the same, “I just want my family together”.

Bev is survived by her husband, Morrie of Milbank, SD; children: Stacy Sime of Ankeny, IA; Dean (Lori) Sime of Fargo, ND; Kent (Susan) Sime of Milbank, SD; four grandchildren: Oliver, Quincy, Cailey, and Brock; sister, Chee Chee (Boise) Halvorson; brother, Buddy Mortenson; stepsister, Gayle (Dennis) Jutting; special family friend, Deb Johnson; and extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Cloyd and Lucille Mortenson; sisters: Tootie Ranson, Marjorie Lee, and Patty Doran; stepsister, Margo Zanke; and nieces: Kristie (Halvorson) Hoffman and Traci (Mortenson) Kemen.