Junette Vivian (Christofferson) Watson (December 16, 1933 – October 27, 2024)

Junette Vivian (Christofferson) Watson, age 90 of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, surrounded by her family, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 27th, 2024, from complications of congestive heart failure.

Junette was born at home, in Malta, Montana, on December 16, 1933, to Harold and Ovedia Christofferson. She was the fifth of six children. Junette grew up on a ranch where they raised beef cattle and wheat. Many stories have been shared throughout the years of all the mischief she and her younger brother, Artt got into. She learned to ride a workhorse, drive a tractor, and she and Artt had to bring the cows in each night. After her father’s death when she was 17 years old, her mom sent Artt and her to Fergus Falls, Minn., to attend Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, where their siblings, Arve and Elida were attending Bible College. She also stayed after graduation and attended Bible School for one year.

She returned to Malta, Mont., where she met Albert Watson for the first time as he was starting to work on a ranch while staying with his sister and brother-in-law while Junette was helping with Vacation Bible School.

Later on, Junette and her friend moved to Duluth, Minn., on a new adventure and worked at The Hotel Duluth as reservation clerks. On numerous weekends, she would take the train to Grand Rapids to visit her sister, Elida, who had married Albert’s older brother, Les. During those visits, she was able to get to know Al better and they began dating in 1957.

Al and Junette were married on June 14, 1958. This summer, they celebrated 66 years together.

Their first child, Diane Kay was born May 17, 1959, and passed away a few days later. They had three other daughters, Lynn Marie, June Elizabeth, and Ann Charlotte. Her younger years were spent raising their daughters while living on a hobby farm where she was in her element – picking blueberries, gardening, canning, helping to raise sheep and chickens, and she was not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Junette was a woman who loved the Lord and was very involved with her church as Sunday School Superintendent, Wednesday night Kids Ministry, and Woman’s Missionary Fellowship. She loved being a part of many different Bible studies, but also loved spending time studying the Bible on her own.

As the girls entered high school and chose to attend Hillcrest Lutheran Academy where their mom attended, Junette went back to work to pay for their schooling as a teacher’s aide and a home health care aide.

Many of her joys were gardening and trying many, many different crafts, she also had a wonderful gift of drawing. She loved traveling back to Montana each year to see her family, planning special things for her grandchildren including a Christmas hayride, birthday party for Jesus, snow slide, teaching sewing and crocheting, a playhouse, and teaching them to slide off the roof of the garage. She and Al created many special gifts for the grandkids including a wooden stool with their names engraved and many of them are still using those stools with their own children.

Some of the absolute favorite memories are watching her laugh uncontrollably while playing games or being egged on by one of the sons-in-law. She leaves a legacy of three married daughters, nine married grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren. Junette impacted each one with her love of hymns, her strong faith, and how she and Al prayed almost daily for each of their family. She will be dearly missed by many who have been impacted by her life and faith.

Junette is preceded in death by her daughter, Diane Kay Watson; parents, Harold and Ovedia; two sisters, June Charlotte and Ann Elizabeth who died young; her siblings, Harriet Suddeth, Randy Christofferson, Arve Christofferson, Elida Watson, and Artt Christofferson.

She is survived by her husband, Albert Watson; daughters, Lynn (Dan) Gerhard, June (Nolan) Larson, Ann (Paul) Duval; grandchildren, Nate (Jen) Larson, Nicole (Jon) Bittman, Craig (Brooke) Larson, Heidi (Jordan) Backstrom, Heather (Joe) Odell, Matt (Dillon) Larson, Ally (Michael) Van Waardhuizen, Annie (Quin) Bancalari, Emily (Dirk) Wiese; along with many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

We would love to thank the wonderful doctors and nurses of Grand Itasca, the nurses and aides of River Grand Assisted Living and Moments Hospice Care for the gentle love and wonderful care given these last four months.

Visitation was held from on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at Grand Rapids Alliance Church, 600 SE 17th Street, Grand Rapids, Minn. A funeral was held on Monday, November 4, 2024, at Grand Rapids Alliance Church.

Arrangements are with Libbey Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, Minn. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit http://www.libbeyfuneralhome.com.