Arline M. Watkins
Arline Martin Watkins, 87, passed away from natural causes in her daughter's home on Christmas Day. Arline and her twin sister, Ardith, were born to Margaret and Harry Martin at home in Poplar on Aug. 26, 1920.
They joined a sister, Maxine and were joined two years later by another sister, Beth. The Martin family resided in Poplar for two years before moving to the Big Horn where Harry was associated with Campbell Farms.
The girls had many fond memories of growing up on the farm and attending their one-room schoolhouses. They would ride horses to school and in the winter time their father would take them in the horse drawn sled. When they were in high school, they boarded in Hardin.
Arline graduated from Hardin High School and then was fortunate enough to attend Cottey College in Nevada, Mo. She returned to Montana and completed nurses training at Columbus Hospital in Great Falls.
Arline enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps and was stationed in Biloxi, Miss., where she met and married her husband, James Watkins.
She was sent overseas and did her tour of duty in the European and Pacific Theaters during WW II. At the end of the war she and Jim returned to the states and settled in Bozeman where Arline worked at Bozeman Deaconess while Jim completed his education.
Jim and Arline moved to various communities in Montana because of Jim's career in education. Arline worked in various hospitals and as a private duty nurse during those years.
She and Jim completed their careers together selling books to schools and public libraries; she for Marshall Cavendish and Jim for Grolier.
They retired in Great Falls. Several years after Jim's death, Arline moved to Helena.
Throughout her life, Arline was passionate about animals, rescuing untold numbers of stray dogs and cats. She is survived by Beggans, the last stray cat and Sierra, her last "pound puppy."
Arline is survived by her sisters Maxine Conver and Beth Amundson; her brother-in-law Earl Conver; children and their spouses Sandi Smith of Helena; Jim and Cindy Watkins of Missoula; Beth and Stephen Grode of Portage, Mich.; Bob and Deb Watkins of Orlando, Fla.; Barbara and Todd Shaver of Euless, Texas; grandchildren Erica Guarasci and her husband Anthony, Jeremy and his wife Angela, Josh, Jason, Qynn, Jacob, Jared, and Brady Watkins, Adam Smith, Ari, Tamar, Shoshanna, and Avi Grode, Sara and Ty Shaver; great-grandaughters Regina Smith and Maeve Guarasci; and special nieces Tena and Mitzi Conver.
Preceding her in death were her parents Margaret and Harry Martin; her husband, Jim Watkins; twin sister Ardie Haider and son-in-law Chuck Smith.
Arline was a member of P.E.O. Chapter O and the First Presbyterian Church of Helena.
Her family would like to extend a special thanks to her friends at the lake, who did so much to enable Arline to spend the fall at the lake home she loved so much.
Services were held on Friday, Dec. 28, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church. Military graveside honors will follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison with Lewis and Clark Veterans Council officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to a Humane Society of the donor's choice or Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin, Nevada, MO 64772. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hagler-Anderson Funeral Home.