William "Bill" Watkins

William (Bill) Joseph Watkins was born on February 7, 1946, to Art and Viola (Kotten) Watkins in the Comfrey Hospital. He was baptized on February 17, 1946, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Comfrey. He was brought home to the farm to join his two older sisters and later nine other brothers and sisters, and all of them knew he did not like the name "Billy". He worked on the farm with his family and went to school at St. Paul's school in Comfrey through 8th grade and then graduated from Comfrey High School, bringing with him many stories of teachers and football. He had enough stories to keep you listening for hours. After his graduation, he worked at the Darfur elevator and implement dealer until he was drafted into the Army on February 4, 1965. He served two years, thirteen of those months in Vietnam. Bill was honorably discharged on February 3, 1967, and came home to Darfur. Then one night he was at the ball room in New Ulm and saw this pretty lady dancing and said, "that's the woman I'm gonna marry." On January 20, 1970, he married Mary Anna Reinhart and moved to a farm in the Darfur/Butterfield area where they raised two sons. He also worked at Balzer and for a few other farmers in the Mt. Lake area. He enjoyed working in his shop, taking old stuff and making something usable out if it (which he was quite gifted at doing), playing softball, cards, visiting, and seeing his five grandchildren, always wanting to help in any way he could. He was loved by his family and on January 1, 2016, he died in his sleep at home. I suspect he is now dancing with "mama" once again. He is survived by his sons - Dana (Linda Dick) Watkins and Dave (Tammy Loewen) Watkins all of Mt. Lake; five grandchildren - Austin, Adam, Ashley, Michael, and Kelly; mother Viola of Comfrey; siblings - Rita (Dennis) Heidelberger of Fergus Falls, Carol Watkins of Comfrey, Jessica Watkins of Edgerly, ND, Pete (Tanya) Watkins of Darfur, Patrick (Patricia) Watkins of Woodbury, Eugene Watkins of Fairmont, Daniel Watkins of Saratoga, CA, Samuel (Michelle) Watkins of Hector, Alice Wills of St. Peter, and Randy (Michele) Watkins of Eldorado Hills, CA. Bill was preceded in death by his father Art; sister Catherine; and wife Anna in May of 2015. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Tuesday, January 5, 2016 Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel 420 - 10th St. N. Mtn. Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Visitation 2 10:00 am - 11:00 am Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Trinity Lutheran Church-Mountain Lake 1418 - 2nd Avenue Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 11:00 am Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Trinity Lutheran Church-Mountain Lake 1418 - 2nd Avenue Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Interment Information Ft. Snelling National Cemetery Address not given Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States 56264