Marilyn Theresa Watson

Marilyn Theresa Watson, 90, passed away of natural causes on Thursday, December 3, 2020, after a short stay at Peace Hospice. She was born to Eli Ropson and Mary DeBouche Ropson in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 19, 1929. Marilyn was one of five children and was the last sibling to survive. Marilyn met William O. “Tex” Watson while he was serving in the Air Force and was on a pass visiting a friend. Her life changed forever. They knew immediately they were meant to be together and were married on July 9, 1951. She left her family and friends to begin their adventures traveling the world with the Air Force. Marilyn even took a slow boat to Japan with her baby daughter, who celebrated her first birthday on the ship, to meet up with Tex after he was stationed there. Their last tour of duty was to Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana where they decided to remain for the rest of their lives. Marilyn worked at Benefis for over thirty years as a Respiratory Therapist and then as a Heart Monitor Technician. She loved working at the hospital so much, she retired once and decided to go back and continued working many more years. As far as she was concerned retirement wasn’t right for her because she was never old. Even in her eighties, she wasn’t thrilled about participating in events with “all those old people” even when she was the oldest one there because she simply never saw herself that way. She was young until the day she passed. Marilyn and Tex have four children, Brenda (Dexter), Kathy, Jerry (Britta) and Patty (Corey). They have seven grandchildren they love unconditionally and two precious great-granddaughters. They had a long, full life together. She is survived by her husband; all of her children; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. Marilyn was a very devout Catholic who dedicated her life to the Lord. She spent hours at daily Mass, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, and praying the Rosary. She was a selfless soul praying for everyone at all times. Her life of constant prayer is who she was and always will be. God rewarded her complete dedication to him with a very peaceful and gentle death. We are confident Jesus came to personally escort her to heaven. Her life’s mission was to ensure her and her family’s eternal life with God. She prayed just as hard for friends and acquaintances wanting to make sure we were all with her for eternity wrapped in God’s love. She asked that everyone who knows her and even those who don’t offer rosaries on her behalf and have masses said for her as long as you remember her.She’s praying for all of us. There will be a rosary vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, and a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Both services will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.