1947
Harold
2014
Rev. Harold Watrous
September 1, 1947 — March 27, 2014
Rev. Harold Watrous, 66, of Sioux Falls, died Thursday, March 27, 2014 in Sioux Falls.
Harold was born September 1, 1947 in New London, Connecticut. He grew up in Ledyard, CT and attended Norwich Free Academy, Norwich, CT, graduating in 1965. He graduated in 1969 from Barrington College, Barrington, RI with a B.A. in English and a secondary major in Bible and Theology. Following graduation, he briefly attended Andover-Newton Theological Seminary.
In 1970, Harold entered military service with the US Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, HI, serving at the Fleet Weather Central. He left active duty in 1974 and received his honorable discharge in 1976 after two additional years with the Navy Reserve.
While stationed in Hawaii, Harold became a member of the Prince of Peace congregation of the American Lutheran Church. At Prince of Peace, he met and married Carole Resler, who was an elementary teacher for Hawaii Public Schools.
The couple was married on December 23, 1974 in Honolulu and soon after moved to St. Paul, MN where Harold attended Luther Theological Seminary, receiving his Master of Divinity in 1979. He took his internship at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Missoula, MT and was later ordained there as a pastor of the American Lutheran Church (now ELCA).
Throughout his pastoral career, Harold served congregations in Poplar, Brockton and Malta, MT, Deer River, MN, Lemmon, SD, New Effington (Faith Lutheran Church), Veblen (Our Savior's Lutheran Church), and Clare City (First Lutheran Church), SD. He retired from the ministry in October, 2013. Soon after, he moved to Sioux Falls where he was living at the time of his death.
Harold was active in many Christian and civic organizations throughout his adult life, including Stephen Ministries, Kiwanis International, the American Legion, and the Lions Club. He was a member of the board of Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota for many years.
Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Brant Watrous of Seattle, WA and Bethany Watrous of Denver, CO, his brothers, Rich Watrous, Ed Watrous and Glen Watrous, sisters Louise Crouch and Irene Schultz, and his dear friend Eileen Halverson of Sioux Falls. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Jennie and Elisha, and his wife, Carole.
Funeral services will begin 1:00 pm Tuesday, April 1 at Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation with the family present will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Monday night at Miller West Funeral Chapel, 6200 W 41st Street, Sioux Falls, S. Dakota.
Graveside services and burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 3, 2014 at Mt. Etna Cemetery, Mt. Etna, Indiana with Chaplain Don Miller officiating.
Local arrangements entrusted to Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana.
Online condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com
Harold was born September 1, 1947 in New London, Connecticut. He grew up in Ledyard, CT and attended Norwich Free Academy, Norwich, CT, graduating in 1965. He graduated in 1969 from Barrington College, Barrington, RI with a B.A. in English and a secondary major in Bible and Theology. Following graduation, he briefly attended Andover-Newton Theological Seminary.
In 1970, Harold entered military service with the US Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, HI, serving at the Fleet Weather Central. He left active duty in 1974 and received his honorable discharge in 1976 after two additional years with the Navy Reserve.
While stationed in Hawaii, Harold became a member of the Prince of Peace congregation of the American Lutheran Church. At Prince of Peace, he met and married Carole Resler, who was an elementary teacher for Hawaii Public Schools.
The couple was married on December 23, 1974 in Honolulu and soon after moved to St. Paul, MN where Harold attended Luther Theological Seminary, receiving his Master of Divinity in 1979. He took his internship at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Missoula, MT and was later ordained there as a pastor of the American Lutheran Church (now ELCA).
Throughout his pastoral career, Harold served congregations in Poplar, Brockton and Malta, MT, Deer River, MN, Lemmon, SD, New Effington (Faith Lutheran Church), Veblen (Our Savior's Lutheran Church), and Clare City (First Lutheran Church), SD. He retired from the ministry in October, 2013. Soon after, he moved to Sioux Falls where he was living at the time of his death.
Harold was active in many Christian and civic organizations throughout his adult life, including Stephen Ministries, Kiwanis International, the American Legion, and the Lions Club. He was a member of the board of Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota for many years.
Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Brant Watrous of Seattle, WA and Bethany Watrous of Denver, CO, his brothers, Rich Watrous, Ed Watrous and Glen Watrous, sisters Louise Crouch and Irene Schultz, and his dear friend Eileen Halverson of Sioux Falls. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Jennie and Elisha, and his wife, Carole.
Funeral services will begin 1:00 pm Tuesday, April 1 at Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation with the family present will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Monday night at Miller West Funeral Chapel, 6200 W 41st Street, Sioux Falls, S. Dakota.
Graveside services and burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 3, 2014 at Mt. Etna Cemetery, Mt. Etna, Indiana with Chaplain Don Miller officiating.
Local arrangements entrusted to Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana.
Online condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com
Visitation Details
Monday, March 31st, 2014, 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Miller West Funeral Chapel
Service Details
Tuesday, April 1st, 2014, 1:00pm, Peace Lutheran Church
Interment Details
Mt. Etna Cemetery
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