Obituary of Herbert Watts

Herbert J. Watts, 101, passed away January 16, 2015 in the Lindsborg Community Hospital, Lindsborg, KS. He was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church. He was born March 10, 1913 near 3 o'clock pm in a snow storm in the farm house near Minneapolis, KS. His parents were Harold Ernest Watts and Lovina Mary Quinn Watts. He attended a country grade school until the family moved to California for a short time. The family then moved to Marquette, KS when he was in eighth grade. He attended and graduated from Marquette High School in 1934 when he was 21 years old. Soon after graduation, he married Florence Swenson. They had a daughter, Arlene. After high school, Herb worked at a Creamery in Hillsboro. Then the family moved to McPherson, KS where he worked at W.P. Mill for 11 years. He changed jobs and started working at McPherson Concrete Products where he built silos for 18 years. It was during these years, the marriage ended in 1954. Soon after this, he met Helen Carlson who became a friend. They were married on March 31, 1957 at the Salina Baptist church. Herb was active in the McPherson Covenant church. When Helen was transferred to Manhattan, KS, Herb got a job with the Manhattan school district as a janitor and mowing. He retired from the Manhattan school district after working 21 years. Herb and Helen were pillars in the Manhattan Covenant Church being very involved with supporting the pastor and his family, cleaning the church, greeting members, and doing whatever was needed. They spent many happy years in Manhattan enjoying new friends and family visits. They especially enjoyed having their nieces and nephews stop by to see them when they attended K-State. For many years, they made trips back and forth to Lindsborg as her parents required more help. Eventually Herb and Helen moved to Lindsborg after her parents moved to Bethany Home. In Lindsborg, Herb and Helen delivered sermon tapes to Bethany Home residents and shut-ins. They would visit shut-ins and members who were in the hospitals. They always enjoyed visiting family, friends, and neighbors. Also, Herb was a member of the Lions Club for over 42 years. Herb also worked for Anderson-Hays Funeral Home for many years. Herb and Helen loved to travel using their camper, flying, or taking the train. They vacationed in much of the USA, including many trips to Colorado to see his daughter Arlene and two grandsons, Kirk and Scott. Also, they flew to Copenhagen, Denmark, and then to Norway. They toured Copenhagen and Norway. Then they took a train to Sweden. They rented a car, drove around to visit many relatives while in Sweden along with sightseeing. Herb loved dogs and was a walker. He walked their dogs at least twice if not three times a day. Herb enjoyed gardening, being outdoors, watching and feeding the birds, rabbits, and squirrels. God has blessed Herb with unusually good health. He and Helen were able to celebrate 56 years of marriage on March 31, 2013. Preceding Herb were his wife Helen Carlson Watts, parents, brother Benjamin Lewis, sister Margaret Louise Tillberg, brothers-in-law, Elmer Tillberg, Norris Peterson, Homer Carlson, sisters-in-law Margaret D. Carlson and Margaret I. Carlson, niece Mary Martin, nephew Daniel Carlson, great nephews Brian Shultz and Joshua Peterson, twin great niece Heidi Peterson, and great-great nephew Caden Carlson. He is survived by his daughter, Arlene Phillips, two grandsons, Kirk (Amy) Rolfs and Scott (Sharon) Rolfs, 6 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Terence Carlson, sister-in-law Eunice Peterson, his nieces Janet Keller (Bill), Irene (Bill)Vance, Marlyse Keenan, Marsha (Jim) Wilson, Rachel (Aaron) Carlson, Mim (Pat) Crockett, Rita (Craig) Shultz, Cheryl (Bruce) Spare, Ann (Jim) Coen, Jane (Duane) Carlson Allison, and nephews Roger Tillberg, Donald (Kristen) Carlson, David (Marla) Peterson, Brian (Crista) Carlson, John (Jolene) Martin, along with a host of great and great-great-nieces/nephews. A funeral service will be held 1:30 pm Tuesday, January 20th at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Lindsborg. Visitation will be held Monday, January 19th from 5-7pm at Christians Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Smoky Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be designated to the Lindsborg Covenant Church, Bethany Home, or Lions Club in care of Christians Funeral Home, 103 N Washington, Lindsborg, Kansas 67456.