Marian Catherine (Grinde) Watson

DeForest, WI; Irvine, CA; Minnetonka, MN.

Marian passed away on December 4, 2020

at her home in Minnetonka after a three-month

battle and valiant struggle with multiple myeloma

and amyloidosis. She was pleased to be able to

spend this time at home with her family and

many friends.

Marian was born on November 26, 1962 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, the

fourth child of William K. Grinde and Joan D. (Halverson) Grinde of DeForest. At the age of 10

Marian tried out for and earned a position on the adult women’s Thunderbird Club fast pitch

softball team. She graduated from DeForest High School, a proud DeForest Norskie, in 1981.

Marian attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and then, due to the beneficence of her

great aunt Hazel M. Grinde, was able to attend and graduate from Chapman University in

Orange, California. She married Emroy “Roy” Watson and together produced their wonderful

children Kayleigh Jean Watson and Reed Thomas Watson. Marian and Roy later divorced but

always strived to do the best for their children.

In 2017 Marian moved to Minnesota to be closer to her family. She last worked at Honeywell

Corporation in Minneapolis beginning just as the Covid pandemic began. She worked diligently

as always, mastering her new position in compliance management of commercial real estate

despite being unable to personally interact at the Honeywell campus due to Covid pandemic

restrictions.

Marian loved her family, friends and pets. There was no greater lover of animals than Marian.

She was also an enthusiastic gardener. She was proud of her garden and yard, and very grateful

to the friends who helped her build a wonderful life in Minnetonka.

She is survived by her children, Kayleigh and Reed; siblings John A. Grinde (Susan K. Benus) St.

Louis Park, MN; Paul H. Grinde (Debra A. Jacobson) Rochester, MN; and, Elizabeth J. Villareal

(Gary Villareal) Sarasota, FL; niece and nephews William Howard Grinde, Ian Thomas Grinde, Anna Noel Grinde and Erik Alexander Grinde; and cousins that are too numerous to mention but

whom she loved to see at every tri-annual Grinde Cousin Reunion and at the Halverson

breakfasts! She is also survived by her dearly loved (and only surviving) aunt and uncle, Ron and

Nola Nordeng of Portage, WI.

Marian was preceded in death by her parents.

Marian was a people person and made and kept friends in her neighborhoods, across the

country and around the world and thanks all of them as they are too numerous to mention.

Special thanks to Amelia, Elizabeth, Erin, Judy, Megan, Wanda, Nancy, Tracy, Roy and especially

Linda the Wonder Woman for being there for Marian when she needed it. Thanks also to the

amazing medical staff at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Marian could not have

gotten better care anywhere.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice or In Trust for Reed Thomas

Watson, C/O ONB Bank, 975 34th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901.

Marian chose to be cremated. There will be a Celebration of Her Life at a later time after the

Covid pandemic has subsided.