Norma Jean Watson of Quincy, WA

Norma was born on September 9, 1932, in Norborne, Missouri, to Harold and Nora (Larson) Beckemeier. She was their only daughter, joining her older brother Harold Jr. Later they were joined by their baby brother, Henry (Hank). The three children were always exceptionally close. Norma was baptized at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Norborne where her Father’s family had long attended. 

In 1936, the Beckemeier family moved to Potlatch, Idaho. There they would be closer to Nora's large family and participate in the booming White Pine lumber industry. Harold joined his father-in-law, John Larson, working at the Potlatch Corporation’s namesake mill. 

Norma and her brothers attended Rock Creek Elementary School and Potlatch High School. She had fond, happy memories of this time. She loved living out on  the Rock Creek farm owned by her Grandpa Larson. Norma especially loved the variety of animals who lived on the farm with them.

In 1947 the family moved to Quincy, Washington, to open the Quincy Lumber Company with Harold’s brother Walter. Norma was not thrilled to trade Idaho's forests for what she saw as a dusty, treeless desert. She often told the story of crying herself to sleep because of how much she missed Rock Creek and her Grandpa Larson. 

Norma graduated from Quincy High School in 1950. It was a very eventful year for her. That spring she was named Apple Blossom Princess, then during the summer she met William "Bill" Watson through friends. They were married September 30, 1950, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Quincy, now known as the Quincy Pioneer Church.

During the first five years of their marriage, Norma and Bill moved around following Bill's work in mining, construction and diamond drilling. In the mid-1950’s, they once again settled in Quincy.

They were blessed with three daughters, Christine, Jody, and Billie, who all attended and graduated from Quincy schools.  When the girls were young, the family loved boating and camping, exploring lakes and rivers throughout Washington and Canada. In 1967 they moved from town out to their farmland, where they lived for the rest of their lives.

Over time Norma grew to love the Quincy Valley, especially once the Grand Coulee Dam brought irrigation that turned the valley green. She and Bill worked side by side to build their family farm, growing potatoes, sugar beets, onions, corn, wheat, peas, and beans. In their later years they added an orchard producing cherries, pears, and apples.

Norma gave generously of her time to her community. She was very active in the Quincy Chamber of Commerce and was installed as its president in 1980. She was appointed to the Big Bend Community College Board of Trustees, serving from 1984 to 1989, including as chairman from 1984 to 1985. Politically active throughout her life, she served as Chairman of the Grant County Republican Party and was selected as a delegate to the 1988 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas. She was a member of Christ the Savior Lutheran Church in George, the Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum, the Quincy Senior Center, and the Grant County Historical Society.

Norma loved to travel and kept photo albums of every trip. She visited most of the states, traveled to Europe, and went all the way to Australia and New Zealand, where she even went zip lining! She was passionate about genealogy and the family tree, and loved attending family reunions in Idaho, Missouri and Germany to see her many distant relatives. At home, she loved bird watching out her back door, sitting on her deck, keeping flower and vegetable gardens. In her later years she enjoyed all the kitties that found their way to her yard and made her garden their home. Yes, she fed them to keep them coming around.

Most of all, Grammy loved baking and hosting a crowd. Up until her last day, she was worried about making dinner for us when we visited. She taught all of us how to cook and bake our favorites.

On her 85th birthday, Norma was blessed with becoming a great-grandmother when Will was born. The two shared a very special bond, and she loved that he arrived on her birthday. She would call him the best birthday present ever, then ask with the biggest smile, "When can I take my present home with me?" Every year the family celebrated their birthdays together with giant numbered balloons and sugar cookies decorated with their names and ages.

Norma is survived by her daughters, Christine L. Watson, Jody (Steve) Lund, and Billie Jean Watson; grandchildren JJ (Tyson) Sturza, and Steven, Skylar, and Robert Lund;  great-grandson Will Sturza (JJ and Tyson); niece Pat (Sam) Coumes and their children Shelly and Jim; nephew Warren (Daphne) Beckemeier and their sons Eric and Greg; sister-in-law Lana Beckemeier and niece Lauri Bauer. She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Watson; parents, Harold and Nora Beckemeier; and brothers, Harold (Mya) and Henry Beckemeier; and nephew Stuart Beckemeier.

The family extends heartfelt thanks and endless gratitude to Norma's devoted and selfless caregivers: Leanne Fenn, Megan Fenn, Delia Romero, Lori Allen, Osiris Sandoval, Samantha Mendoza, Mariya Valkova, Yana Bautista, and Julia O'Harra.

A service will be held on Thursday, November 19, at 11 a.m. at Christ the Savior Lutheran Church in George, Washington.

Memorials may be made in her honor to the Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum, Christ the Savior Lutheran Church in George, or a charity of your choice.