Mary Clara Watterud, 87
Mary Clara Watterud, 87, "went home to be united with the Lord" on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005, at the Heritage Place in Kalispell.
She was born the first of five children to John and Frances (Engles) Redfield, at Opheim. Concerning her birth, Mary said, "In a five room shack on Snow Coulee at four o'clock in the morning on March 27, 1918, I first opened my eyes on this great wonderful world." She attended Bog Coulee School through eighth grade and graduated from Opheim High School in 1936.
Mary married Raymond Watterud on Oct. 26, 1938, in Glentana. They were devoted to one another and to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They ran the E-Z Rest Hotel in Opheim from 1957 until 1975. During the years they lived in Opheim, Mary was active in the Altar Society and involved in many community projects. She was a member of St. Raphael Catholic Church in Glasgow.
In 1975, Mary and Ray retired and moved to Glasgow. In Glasgow, they worked together in the Senior Citizens Center and various odd jobs until Ray's death on July 22, 1990. At the time of Ray's death, Mary moved into the Nemont Manor. She had a good life at the manor for 12 years. She enjoyed dancing, crocheting, embroidery and knitting. She considered herself a "common ordinary girl off of the farm."
During the past few years, Mary's health began to decline and she moved to Kalispell with her daughter and son-in-law. Her health continued to decline and she moved into Heritage Place for more skilled nursing care for the last two months of her life.
All of whose love will be with her when she joins her husband Ray; her parents, John and Frances Redfield; her brother, Walter Redfield; and sister, Margaret Anderson who went before her.
Mary will be greatly missed by those left behind; her son, Gordon Watterud and wife, Vivian, of Melbourne, Fla.; daughter, Lily Harms of Largo, Fla.; daughter, Luella Jennings and her husband, Don, of Gilroy, Calif.; daughter, Mary Ann Moniz and husband, Jim, of Kalispell; and son, Dale Watterud and wife, Rita, of Loveland, Colo.; two sisters, Amelda Bruch of Kalispell, and Elona Kirkorian of Hinsdale; 20 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial for Mary Watterud will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Glasgow. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow. A Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow. Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring locally for Mary's family.