Lorraine Watson

Lorraine Watson, 96, Minot, formerly of Maxbass and Lake Metigoshe, died Wednesday, October 1, 2025 in a Minot assisted living center. Her family was at her side.

Lorraine Marion Kraft was born on December 8, 1928, at her aunt's and uncle's home (Bill and Hulda Kraft) in Bowbells, ND. She grew up in the Coulee ND area on a farm in Lowland Township of Mountrail County. She attended the Egger County School for the first two grades and then moved to Coulee and attended grade and high school at Donnybrook. Lorraine moved to Minot in 1944 and worked at Saunders Drug Store and Dotty Dunns Hat Shop. She married Ralph Watson on August 2, 1947, and they made their home on the Watson family farm in Brander Township of Bottineau County near Maxbass, ND where they raised their five children.

Lorraine was active in the Maxbass School Parent Teacher Association during her children's school years and was a member of the Maxbass Methodist Church until it closed. Then, she became a member of the English Lutheran Church in Maxbass and was currently attending Faith United Methodist Church in Minot.

When Lorraine was 50 years old, she went back to school in Bottineau ND and earned her GED. She was hired by the United States Bureau of Census in December of 1978 and did the Bottineau County Unemployment Survey until November of 1992, when she retired. Lorraine earned many honor awards during her 14 years of service.

Lorraine and Ralph had a home at Lake Metigoshe where they spent summers when their children were small and full-time starting in 1987. Ralph passed away in December of 1994. Lorraine bought a home in Apache Junction, AZ in 1995.

Lorraine married Clifford Davidson of Thunder Bay, Ontario in October of 1997 and they enjoyed their life together splitting their time between the lake in the summer and Arizona in the winter. Clifford passed away in January of 2009. After that Lorraine made her home in Apache Junction full time. She loved hosting parties and traveling to both Watson and Kraft family gatherings. Most recently Lorraine had resided at The View for the past five and a half years. Lorraine was the last surviving member of her generation.

Lorraine is survived by her children: Brian (Julie) of Lake Metigoshe and FL, Craig (Dorthea) of Albuquerque, NM, Lynn (Kae) of Minot, Carla (Alan) of Lake Metigoshe and Stacy (Kelly) of Bakersfield, CA; 10 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren and "adopted" daughters Susan Pederson of Minot and Shirley Davidson of AZ;

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, husbands: Ralph and Clifford, two infant daughters, three sisters: Hazel Nott, Vivian Johnson and Margaret Griffith and brother: Kenneth Kraft.

Celebration of the Life of Lorraine Watson: Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in Faith United Methodist Church – Minot. A delayed stream of the service may be watched, starting on October 13, 2025, by using https://www.mtmsales.net/thomas

Interment will be in the Westhope Community Cemetery at a later date.

Visitation: Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home – Minot.

Memorials are preferred to the Westhope Cemetery or Faith Methodist Church.