Lorraine Sands-Watkins

Lorraine J. Sands-Watkins, age 96, of Willmar, died Thursday evening, May 11, at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 19, at Salem Covenant Church. A family interment will be held at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be during the luncheon following the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Salem Covenant Church Bus Fund are preferred.

Lorraine (Larry) Junice Sands-Watkins was born on June 30, 1920 in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Lance and Alma (Anderson) Seastedt. She grew up in Willmar, living briefly in Kerkhoven and Minneapolis. In 1938, she graduated from Willmar High School and began employment at the Willmar Fur Shop. In 1941 Lorraine was united in marriage to Virgil "Bob" Sands. They lived in the communities of Willmar and Litchfield before Bob's death in 1984. On April 24, 1993 Lorraine was united in marriage to Morse Watkins and they made their home in Willmar. Lorraine was a member of First Covenant Church and was active as a Sunday school teacher, choir member, and high school youth leader, which eventually became the T.N.T. (Twenties and Thirties) group. She was also a volunteer at Youth For Christ (in the days before Campus Life) in Willmar. She was currently a member of Salem Covenant Church. Lorraine enjoyed music and had the gift of playing the piano by ear. She was  known for her work as a seamstress and excelled at entertaining people in her home.  Her one vice was anything chocolate.

She is survived by her two sons, Gary (and Carol) Sands of Huntley and Bary Sands of Winona; three step-children, Ron (and Kathleen) Watkins of St. Cloud, Bruce (and Jarolyn) Watkins of St. Cloud and Sharon (and Geoff) Miller of Plymouth; one stepson-in-law, David Plumb of Minneapolis; eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one sister; Carol Wareberg of New London; one sister-in-law, Betty Seastedt of Fergus Falls; and many special nephews and nieces in addition to other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands, Virgil "Bob" Sands in 1984 and Morse Watkins in 2010; one daughter, Bonnie in infancy; one brother, Jack; one step-daughter, Kathleen Plumb; and one brother-in-law, Norman Wareberg.

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