Annette Marie Bishop

Funeral Services for Annette Bishop will be at 11:00a.m., Friday September 13, 2013 at Family Life Church with Pastor Gordon Harper officiating. Burial will take place Monday, September 16, 2013 at Sidney Cemetery in Sidney, Montana. Visitation will be from 4:00p.m. to 7:00p.m., Thursday, September 12, 2013 at Walker Funeral Home. Annette, age 52, of Wright, WY passed away at her home on September 7, 2013. It is with our deepest sympathies and gratitude that we honor the life of our cherished daughter, sister, wife, auntie, cousin and friend. Her ever-present smile and illuminating presence in our lives and the lives of everyone she touched, was her gift to us, a gift we will cherish forever. As the most fundamental of teachings, the Lord blesses us with special people whose naturally inherent compassion defines their lives and does his good work. Annette was one of those angels and there's little doubt that in calling her home he has created a special place for our beloved Annette. Annette was born to Roy and Coralee Simonson on November 3, 1960, in Sidney, MT. From that day these proud parents knew she was special and throughout her life she demonstrated a quality of human goodness that was witnessed by all she touched. The Simonson family left Sidney and ended up in Yakima, WA for a few years before coming back to Sidney, MT. This is where the Simonson children spent most of their developing years, and this is where Annette graduated from Sidney High School, as a proud member of the Class of 1979. Annette was the middle daughter between her oldest Sister Vicky, her little sister Jody and brother Chuck. The Simonson family loved everything western including rodeo, which played a big role in defining their life's interests. Annette participated in 4-H where she showed horses and sheep and she played numerous sports winning Most Valuable Softball Player in Wright. She was heavily involved in track and her high school rodeo club. Over the years, Annette learned the value of work from her parents whose dedication to family was present in every aspect of her being. Annette watched and learned the worth of a strong family, which helped her build a durable sense of community. People were her life and she worked tirelessly to bring the values she learned from Roy and Coralee to the people she influenced. So special and unassuming was Annette that her most gratifying reward was knowing she'd helped someone that day and her life's mission was to help people each and every day of her life. It was her essence.Annette found the perfect mate in her life's companion, Steve Bishop, they met while attending Sheridan Community College. They married on November 13, 1982 and moved to Wright, Wyoming where Steve worked in the coal mines and Annette undertook a career at the Campbell County Recreation Center. She worked her way up to the Assistant Activities Director. After 29 years of service to her community she retired in 2012. This career afforded her the opportunity to spend her days serving people. She especially loved working with the youth within the community who learned, by her example, many of life's lessons. The Lord could not have found a better mission for Annette in her professional life; she loved those kids and worked tirelessly for her community. Steve and Annette built their lives with the dream of owning their own home, starting with a bare piece land. They worked tirelessly to build their new home the old fashioned way, with their own sweat and tears. It was the kind of struggle that fostered lasting character in their relationship and until her death; they remained forever committed to each other. Steve adored Annette and will miss her greatly.God bless her soul. We are all so lucky to have shared her in our lives where her memory will live forever in our hearts and mind. God has his angel in heaven now and that is where she belongs.Annette is survived by her husband Steve Bishop, Wright, WY; Father Roy (Evelyn) Simonson, Dagmar, Mt; her sisters Vicki Panasuk, Glendive, MT, Jody Simonson, McKenzie, ND; brother Chuck Simonson, Absarkee, MT, Sister in Law Dawn( Dan) Brown, Mammoth, OR; Brother in law, Gary( Janet) Bishop, In-Laws Don (Sharon) Bishop, Buffalo, WY.She has joined her mother, Carolee Simonson in heaven. Memorials and Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court Gillette, Wyoming 8716. Condolences may also be sent via our website: www.walkerfuneralgillette.comFuneral Home:Walker Funeral Home410 Medical Arts CourtGillette, WYUS 82716