Dorothy K. (Haugen) Watkins

Dorothy Kathaleen Watkins, 86, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family, on May 11, 2013 at Northcare Hospice House.  The youngest of 14 children, she was born on January 28, 1927 to Andrew Iverson & Josephine Emelia Borslien Haugen in Gatzke, Minnesota. 

 

The family eventually moved to Newfolden, Minnesote, where Dorothy graduated from high school in 1945.  Shortly afterward, she and her best friend Ruthie headed south, stopping in Hastings, Nebraska, and Kansas City, Kansas before settling in Kansas City, Missouri, North of the river.  She met her future husband, Marlin Watkins, at the St. Regis Paper Company.  They were married on August 16, 1947 in Kansas City, Kansas.

 

Throughout their marriage, the couple lived in the same house in Kansas City, North, which expanded to accommodate their growing family.  A few weeks of every summer was spent on the 14-hour roadtrip (one-way, without air conditioning) to Newfolden to visit family and friends.  Dorothy was involved with many activities, including Cub Scouts and church.  She was a member of Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church and attended St. James Lutheran Church.  In the 1970’s she worked at Royce Electronics testing CB radios.

 

Dorothy loved her family and faithfully attended the family reunions in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  She was known as the keeper of the family tree.  Although she didn’t play an instrument, she enjoyed listening to the music all her brothers and sisters made with their accordions, banjos, and keyboards.

 

Always a thoughtful and generous person, Dorothy traveled where ever her family needed her, caring for her sisters throughout their struggles with cancer. 

 

She loved spending time with family, playing cards, crocheting, quilting, sewing, crossword puzzles, taking pictures and video recordings of family, jewelry-making, painting, and most any craft she ever met.  After Marlin retired from General Motors in 1982, they traveled to their houses in Forsyth, MO and Newfolden, to relax with friends and family; they also enjoyed a few bus tours to see new places.  Most every Labor Day, they would travel to Rollag, MN for the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion.

 

Dorothy was a wonderful and loving mother to five children and grandmother to ten grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.  She is survived by her children and their spouses: Marilyn & David Wyatt, Linda & Chris Williams, David & Brenda Watkins, Lisa & Reginald George, and Raymond & Laura Watkins; her grandchildren: CJ, Sarah, and Kris Wyatt; Christa & Tim Copenhaver, Brandon and Alan Williams; Eric and Allison Watkins; Courtney and Kyle Watkins; and her great-granddaughters, Madeleine and Amelia Copenhaver. 

 

She is also survived by her sister, Alvina Stevens of Augusta, WI; sister-in-law, Eileen Haugen of Madison, WI; brother- and sister-in-law, Mitchell & Rosemary Watkins of Platte City, MO; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents Andrew Iverson (1867-1935) & Josephine Emelia Boerslien Haugen (1882-1963); her husband of 54 years, Marlin Dee Watkins (1921-2001); and twelve brothers and sisters:

          Bergetta Blehm (1896-1946)

Idon Haugen (1898-1980)

Amy Haugen (1903-1923)                             

Hannah Haugen (1904-1923)

Nyard Haugen (1907-1985)

Kora Schneid (1908-1987)          

Henning Haugen (1910-2003)

Viola Moen (1912-2010)

Walter Haugen (1914-1983)

Evelyn Kath (1916-1982)

Kenneth Haugen (1918-2004)

Reuben Haugen (1920-2004)

 

 

Funeral Service:  11:00 a.m. Friday, May 17^th at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Smithville, MO. 

Visitation:  6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. 

Burial: Ridgely Cemetery. 

 

Donations: Northcare Hospice House.