“Praise the Lord! Watsons.” For years unnumbered, phone calls to the Watson home would be answered with this snappy greeting by the Voice of the Watson Family.
Maude Ruth Watson, 93, drew her last breath this side of heaven on Friday morning, June 30, 2023. Her family and friends will celebrate her life together on Thursday, July 6 at Nowthen Alliance Church, Nowthen, Minnesota, beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a hymn sing, and continuing at 11:00 with a service of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the many blessings of her life, and ours, and for the mercy and grace He has shown us through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Maude Ruth Esther Polson was born in Nampa, Idaho on November 13, 1929, the youngest of five children of Burtis Denzil Polson and Esther Amelia (Lang) Polson. She grew up near the small Oklahoma town of Dacoma with her brothers Bruce and Marvin, and sisters Lois and Avonna, on her grandfather’s farm, where she acquired the nickname “Butch.” After high school graduation, she attended York College in York, Nebraska, where she met and married the “perfect” (his mother said) Donald Emerson Watson 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, then as administrative assistant to the school superintendent, for many years. Sons David and Daniel were born in 1953 and 1955, respectively. In 1966, they moved into their newly completed home on 30 acres near St. Francis, now Andover, Minnesota. After the birth of daughter Deanna in 1971, Maude Ruth became secretary to the St. Francis Public School superintendent.
Following Deanna’s graduation, and retirement from her job at the school, Maude Ruth was employed at Wm. M. Mercer, Proex, Office Max, and also took on what she considered her most significant role, with the nonprofit Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Maude Ruth had believed in Christ as a young girl, and always said that her great desire was to be a missionary overseas. God called her to another mission field, beginning with her family, and continuing with the many hundreds of people she met throughout the course of her life, not only in Minnesota, but on her travels here in the United States and abroad. She did not know the meaning of the word ‘stranger’ and would strike up a conversation anywhere, with anyone, no holds barred. She believed the best of every single person that she met and was genuinely interested in each one, often taking down an address and/or phone number, and beginning a correspondence that continued for years. She was blessed with many friends whom she considered family.
Family was extremely important to Maude Ruth; living so far from her Oklahoma and Nebraska roots did not deter her from maintaining strong family ties. Her monthly Snail Mail News traveled to a multitude of addresses in the US and other countries for over twenty years “to let our children, grandchildren and great-grands know that we are still alive and kicking.” She considered herself blessed beyond belief with each new addition to the family, welcoming one and all into the fold, imparting a living legacy of love.
Left behind for now, but looking with joy toward a grand reunion around the throne of God, are her husband of nearly 74 years, Donald, children Larry and Donna Hardersen of Hinton, Iowa, David and Cynthia “Cindy” Watson of Duluth, Minnesota, Daniel and Sandra “Sandi” Watson of Duluth, Minnesota, Cory and Deanna Wood of Centerville, Minnesota; 18 grandchildren: Merritt and Dannika Nelson (Oakland, NE), Aaron and Kelana Groendyke (Alton, IA), Denairic and Karla Hardersen (McConnell, IL), Brandon and Kyndara Woudstra (Orange City, IA), Ryan and Mikyla Dittman (Orange City, IA), Kadrian and Janna Hardersen (Hinton, IA), Brady and Delainye Woudstra (Elk Horn, IA); Thomas “Tom” and Megan Flagstad (Duluth, MN), Nathaniel “Nate” and Shannon Watson (Lake City, MN), Sarah Watson (Eden Prairie, MN), Kyle and Loriel Hedquist (Crystal, MN); Brandon Watson (Duluth, MN), Ben and Giselle Watson (Northridge, CA), Naomi Ellis (Northridge, CA); Samuel “Sam” Wood, Abigail “Abby” Wood, Adalynn “Addy” Wood, Jamison “Jamie” Wood (all of Centerville, MN); 33, and soon to be 35, great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Velma Smith of Seattle, Washington, and brother-in-law Dale Watson of Palmyra, Nebraska; and a plethora of nephews, nieces and cousins of many stripes.
Preceding her in death are her siblings and spouses Bruce and Jeanne Polson, Marvin and Frances “Fran” Polson, Charles (Lois) Waits, Lois and Lester Doud, and Avonna Polson; her in-laws Harlan and Dawnie Watson, Vince Smith, Ed and Twilla Lonsdale, and Darlene Watson; and a 2-year-old grandson, Kierian Benn Hardersen.
Thursday’s service will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/NAChurch/
Lunch will be served at the church following the service.
Burial will be in Morningside Memorial Gardens, Coon Rapids at 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, monetary memorials will be donated in Maude Ruth’s name in support of International Bible Givers.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GearhartAnokaChapel.com for the Watson family.
