Shezalle Gaye Simons of Hot Springs passed away on March 16, 2025 in Spearfish Canyon Health Care nursing home.

Shezalle was born to Ardell J. Simons and Gwendolyn Marye (Pellegrin) Simons on September 1st, 1951, in Sturgis, South Dakota. As a child she moved around quite a bit, attending elementary school in Mud Butte, Enning, Lantry, Red Owl, and Plainview. She attended high school at St. Martins Academy, Rapid City,  and graduated from Sturgis high school. She studied special education at Black Hills State University for four years, during which she also had a battle with leukemia. She was one of the first cases to survive and was spurred into exploring herbology and natural medicine. She attended Kent State University in Ohio, where she studied library sciences, continuing her passion for learning and teaching.

In 1977 she moved to Weinheim, Germany, with her then-husband Norm Oches. She taught English at a military base there, traveling through Europe collecting languages and a diverse set of cooking skills as she went. She returned to South Dakota in 1983, where she worked as a Librarian, at Black Hills State University, Rapid City Public Library, and National College.

There she met Thomas Cook, whom she married in 1996 at Immaculate Conception Church in Rapid City. From 2001 to 2006 they adopted five children, Marcus Cook, Daniel Cook, David Cook, Sarah Cook, and Selena Cook. She was very active as a mother, using her educational background to homeschool all her children, as well as involving them in many different sports, teaching them to play piano, actively pursuing her Catholic faith and sharing her culture. She battled with cancer again in 2012, suffering many afflictions through the following years. She never lost her zest for life, or her sense of humor.

Shezalle is survived by eight brothers and sisters and numerous nephews and nieces. Brother, Guy Simons, Spearfish, SD, & his three children: Corena and Daryl Carmichael, Colorado,  A.C. and Michelle Simons, Colorado,  Colt Simons, Vale, SD,  Sisters, Mardel (Marty) Claymore, Rapid City, SD, & her children, Chad and Krystal Claymore, Custer, Lee & Michelle Claymore, Colorado, Dixie LeCompte, Eagle Butte, Kate and Mark Dupree, Colorado,  Virginia Doyen, Sundance, Wyoming, her daughter Anita and Robert Atkinson, Florida,  Linda "Jodie" Simons Spearfish,  Colleen & Joe Conklin, Spearfish, and their children, Traci and Ken Barkey, Gillette, Wy., Renee and Jerry Banner, Spearfish,  Kyle and Lucy Conklin, Spearfish. Brother, Father Kevin Simons, Colorado Springs, Sister, Anne Renee Simons and her children, Dan and Mary Beth Blair, Spearfish, Pam and Dustin Lee, Spearfish, Theo and Arlene Blair, Phillip, SD. Brother Patrick and Julie Simons, Colorado, their children, Kurt and Tacita Simons, Colorado, Nicole and Taylor Carlson, Oklahoma, Joe and Josie Simons Colorado. Also, many great nieces and nephews and cousins.

Shezalle was preceded in death by her parents, Ardell and Gwen, and her husband Thomas Cook.

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 6:00 pm on Friday, March 28 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home and Recital of the Rosary at 6:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 am Saturday, March 29 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Rapid City.

Burial will be at the St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery in Sturgis.

Arrangements with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home at www.osheimschmidt.com