Named last week as this year’s Sport Yukon Hall of Fame inductee alongside her late husband William “Bill” Simpson, Diana Simpson died in hospital Saturday.

She was 73 years old.

The Simpsons will enter the hall as builders during Sport Yukon’s awards night next Thursday at the Yukon Convention Centre.

The couple is being honoured for their leadership and work in building Whitehorse’s ElderActive Recreation Association (ERA).

Bill Simpson, 80, died in June after a struggle with heart disease.

Soon after, Diane moved to Medicine Hat, Alta., to join her family. There, she became ill and was hospitalized until her death.

The Simpson children – Stuart, Doug and Susan – will accept the award on behalf of their parents.

A memorial will be held at the Golden Age Society at 2 p.m. Nov. 20, prior to the awards ceremony.

Before she died, Diana did receive word of the recognition by Sport Yukon, and was able to smile acknowledgment, said Spence Hill, a spokesperson with the ERA.

The local organization was founded as a non-governmental association in 2000.

Bill and Diana Simpson spent more than a decade helping to build the ERA, which promotes active living amongst seniors.

In the process, they also formed the structure for Team Yukon to participate in the Canada 55+ Games.

“The association owes them a great deal,” ERA president Tom Parlee told the Star last week.