Donald Cary

Donald Cary, Watson died on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 95.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 10:30 AM at Watson Lutheran Church in Watson with Rev. Donald S. McKee officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery

Visitation with the family will be held on Monday August 9, 2021 from 5 to 7 PM at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Arrangements are with Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Donald Leslie Cary was born October 10, 1925 in Hoff Township, Pope County, MN to Wallace and Freida (Nissen) Cary.  He was confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Hancock.  He attended country school and 2 years of high school.  Don lived near Clontarf and Danvers before moving to Watson in 1943.  He served in the US Army from December 1944 in the Philippines and Korea before his discharge in December of 1946.  Don was united in marriage with Irene (Olson) Johnson on December 31, 1954.  They were married for nearly 55 years.

Don liked to garden, go to auctions, attend the county and MN State Fair, church suppers, Budgers, VFW fish fry, beef commercials at the Pantry Cafe, working with tractors, driving his golf cart; and visiting with friends at the Goose bar and the VFW. He and his wife liked to dance to old time music at the area ballrooms.

His biggest enjoyment through his whole life was being involved with the fire service.  He was a member of the Watson Fire Department for 71 years.  During that span of time he served as secretary/Treasurer for 40 years.  He and Frank Stay were involved in getting the relief association started for the fire department which he served as treasurer for several years, served on the board of directors for the West Central Fire Assoc., attended nearly all the West Central Regional Meetings, sectional fire training classes, and attended several MN State Fire Dept. Conventions. Don was also a  member of Watson Lutheran Church, the cemetery board and the Watson City Council.

Don worked for the City of Watson as a bartender and then as a maintenance man with the water and sewer dept.  He later worked for the Chippewa County Highway Dept. at the Watson Shop until he retired.

He is survived by is son Dale (Janine) Cary, Montevideo; step-son Dennis (Donna) Olson, Omaha, NE; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; three sisters: Marion Raffelson,  Beverly Sailer, Arlene Teigen as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Wallace and Freida; his wife, Irene; step-daughter and son-in-law Diane and Dean Myhre; grandson, John Myhre;  two brothers: Wallace Cary, Arlen Cary; brothers-in-law: Donald Teigen, Elmer Raffelson, Bob Sailer,; as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.