Henry "Red" Watson, age 97, Mott, ND passed away Thursday evening September 7, 2017 at the Mott Good Samaritan Center Nursing Home.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 10:00 am MT at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mott with Pastor John Amundson officiating. After a time of lunch and fellowship burial will take place at 3:00 pm CT at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan, ND.

Visitations will be from 1-7 pm on Monday at Evanson Jensen Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday morning.

HENRY "RED" WATSON was born on December 11, 1919 to Quinn and Millie (Hughes) Watson south of Mott, ND. He attended country schools, graduating from the 8th grade. At the age of 14 he moved to Grand Forks and found work with a local farmer to make money to send back home.

In 1940 he married a country school teacher named Helen Reinke. He enlisted in the US Army on February 9, 1943 and served two theaters of the war as a combat infantryman. He was Honorably Discharged on January 25, 1946 with the rank of Sergeant. Red would tell you, the only time he ever left Mott, ND was to fight fascism. He was very proud of his generation and those that fought for our freedoms. He was especially proud of the people from Mott that served in the military and most of his best friends were veterans. He was active in the American Legion, and he and Helen attended many reunions of the Black Hawk 86th Division, the only Division with the distinction to serve in both theaters of WWII. Red was honored to be able to participate in the Honor Flight to Washington, DC and was deeply touched by the WWII Veterans Memorial Monument.

After his military service, Red returned to the farm in Mott and farmed with his Uncle George Hughes. During this time he started his own trucking company. In the mid 70's he bought the Pheasant Café which he ran for many years. After selling the Café, he continued to work there, right up until the week before his passing. He liked to hunt and spend time with his family, and especially enjoyed the time spent with the Hagler family over the last few years. He enjoyed working and staying connected with the kids at the Café, and they became his second family.

Red is survived by his daughter Margaret (Gary) Hagler, Cando, ND; his son Richard (Jonelle) Watson, Minot, ND; grandsons Jesse and Brendon Watson, Minot, ND; sisters-in-law LaVonn Watson, St. James, MN, Juanita Watso, Paris, TN; and many nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Helen, brothers Martin and Vernon, and sisters Gunda and Eulalia.

A memorial has been established by the family.