Sharon Watson, age 73, of Waubun, MN, died on Friday, November 9, 2018, at Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home, Mahnomen, MN, where she had resided since June.

Sharon Lee Shurtz was born November 27, 1944, in Flint, MI, the daughter of Willard and Betty Jean (Shook) Shurtz.  Her early years were spent in Michigan, but she moved with her family to California as a teenager.  Sharon met the love of her life, Jeremiah Watson, a sailor in the US Navy.  The couple were united in marriage in Las Vegas, NV, on March 22, 1966.  They made their home in Norwalk, CA, while Jeremiah was stationed in Long Beach, CA.  Following his honorable discharge, the couple remained in California then moved to Iowa for a year and settled on the White Earth Reservation in May of 1978 following a family vacation to the area.

Sharon loved being a Mom. Her greatest years were spent at home raising her three biological children and 25 foster children. Sharon attended Bemidji State University and received her bachelor's degree in 1989.  She worked for NW Mental Health for many years before deciding to stay home to take care of her husband whose health was failing.  Following Jeremiah's death in 2003, Sharon began working at the Shooting Star Casino.  She truly enjoyed working in customer service at Star Rewards.  When she retired from the casino, Sharon volunteered at the Naytahwaush Charter School as a foster grandparent.  Sharon loved spending time with the children.  Over the years, she and Jeremiah were loving foster parents to over 25 children, only a small testament to her true character.  She was loving, dependable and caring and would open her door to anyone in need and lend a hand when she could.  Sharon volunteered countless hours in the way of support on the crisis line as part of a suicide prevention team.  She cherished her family and loved spending time with them, especially her grandchildren.  In her spare time, she also enjoyed beading, painting and working jig-saw puzzles.  Sharon will be greatly missed and live on in the hearts of many.

Sharon is survived by two daughters, Neily (Chuck) Anderson and Jerri (Jamie) Hawks both of Waubun, MN, eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lawrence (Ana) Shurtz of Hemet, CA, and James (Michelle) Shurtz of Murrieta, CA; one sister, Michel Johnson of Buffalo, NY, and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jeremiah; son, Dennis; and a special aunt, Nancy Shook.

A visitation and a time of gathering will be held Wednesday, November 14, 2018, from 1 - 3 pm at the Anderson Family Funeral Home in Mahnomen.