We celebrate in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to God the many blessings of his life, and ours, and the mercy and grace He has shown us through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the giving of His Holy Spirit for our edification and His everlasting glory.
Donald Emerson Watson was born in Seward, Nebraska on May 28, 1928, the eldest of five children of Emmerson Ethel Watson and Dorothy Elizabeth (Mann) Watson. He grew up in various towns around Nebraska, following his father’s jobs as an itinerant farmer. He graduated from York High School in 1946. After high school graduation, he attended York College in York, Nebraska, where he met and married Maude Ruth Esther Polson on August 28, 1949.
Their first child, Donna, was born in 1950 and the family lived for three years in Magnet, Nebraska, where Don had his first teaching job. In 1953 they moved to Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, where both Don and Maude Ruth worked in the school, he as a teacher and she as secretary to the school superintendent, for many years. Sons David and Daniel were born in 1953 and 1955, respectively. In 1966, the family moved into their newly completed home on 30 acres near St. Francis, now Andover, Minnesota. Their daughter Deanna came along in 1971.
Education was Don’s first love. He had a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from York College, a Master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Minnesota, and a second Master’s degree in Administration from St. Thomas. He taught 2 years in Magnet, Nebraska, then 5 years at Woodcrest School in Minnesota district 16, then 10 years at Spring Lake Park High School before taking a 10 year break to serve as principal there. Ultimately, he returned to teaching before his retirement. He taught everything from Social Studies, Language Arts, Physical Education, to Health.
Donald excelled as a coach during his teaching years. He coached basketball, cross country, football, softball, and track, and served as athletic director for 5 years as well. In 1971 he was named Cross Country coach of the year, and he loved to tell stories about building the track at Spring Lake Park, and about his many student athletes. In 2008 he was inducted as the first member of the SLP Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. (Burpees. If you know, you know!)
Don loved the land and built a house on 30 acres in Anoka County when it was just corn fields. If you met Don and Maude Ruth, they would surely invite you out for a tractor ride and a tour of the home they built together. His gardens took much of his time and energy. Even at age 96 he would spend 4-6 hours a day tending his lawns and gardens. Many friends and family will carry on his garden legacy by continuing to replant the canna bulbs he gifted to them.
Don loved Christ’s church family. He studied the Word of God daily and hosted many Bible studies and small group fellowships. His prayer list grew daily with every new friend he met, and he prayed for each one fervently. This includes the many folks who loved him at his dining room, Pizza Ranch of Andover. This was his home away from home. They cared for him, shared prayer with him, and he would just love on them the best way he knew how.
Left behind for now, but looking with joy toward a grand reunion around the throne of God, are children Larry and Donna Hardersen of Hinton, Iowa, David and Cindy Watson of Duluth, Minnesota, Daniel and Sandi Watson of Duluth, Minnesota, Cory and Deanna Wood of Centerville, Minnesota;
18 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren:
Merritt and Dannika Nelson (Oakland, NE) [children Dacey, Caden, Chaney, Sadie],
Aaron and Kelana Groendyke (Alton, IA) [children Kiernan (Luke Burch), Tayon, Trycen],
Denairic and Karla Hardersen (McConnell, IL) [children Kayla, Elijah, Mielye],
Brandon and Kyndara Woudstra (Orange City, IA) [children Jaelye, Leyton, Breyden],
Ryan and Mikyla Dittman (Orange City, IA) [children Zoe, Meraya, Bria, Kendrew, Dreysen],
Kadrian and Janna Hardersen (Hinton, IA) [children Braelynn, Kynleigh, Adley, Haidyn, Kyren, Karsyn],
Brady and Delainye Woudstra (Elk Horn, IA) [children Attalia, Eliana, Enaiya, Eldon, Aldren],
Tom and Megan Flagstad (Duluth, MN) [children Leah, Renee, Beth, Caleb, Ashley, Kestra, Lily],
Nate and Shannon Watson (Lake City, MN) [children James, Emma],
Sarah Watson (Eden Prairie, MN) [child Charles],
Kyle and Loriel Hedquist (Crystal, MN) [child Indira],
Brandon Watson (Duluth, MN),
Ben and Giselle Watson (Northridge, CA) [child Martin],
Naomi Ellis (Northridge, CA),
Samuel Wood (Rawlins, WY),
Abigail Wood, Adalynn Wood, Jamison Wood (all of Centerville, MN);
sister Velma Smith of Seattle, Washington, and
brother Dale Watson of Palmyra, Nebraska;
and a plethora of nephews, nieces and cousins of many stripes.
Preceding him in death are Maude Ruth, his wife of nearly 74 years; his siblings and spouses Harlan and Dawnie Watson, Vince Smith, Ed and Twilla Lonsdale, and Darlene Watson; his in-laws Bruce and Jeanne Polson, Marvin and Frances Polson, Charles (Lois) Waits, Lois and Lester Doud, and Avonna Polson; and a 2-year-old grandson, Kierian Benn Hardersen.
Join us at Nowthen Alliance Church, 19653 Nowthen Blvd NW, Nowthen, MN, for Don's service on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 10 am. The service will be Livestreamed on the Nowthen Alliance Church Facebook Page: https://tinyurl.com/nowthenalliance
