• Home
  • About FCJ
  • FCJ Staff
  • Award Winning Team
  • Advertise
  • Student Writers
  • Cookbook
  • 507-765-2151

Fillmore County Journal

"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"

  • News
    • Feature
    • Agriculture
    • Arts & Culture
    • Business
    • Education
    • Faith & Worship
    • Government
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Outdoors
  • Sports
  • Schools
    • Caledonia Warriors
    • Chatfield Gophers
    • Fillmore Central Falcons
    • Grand Meadow Super Larks
    • Houston Hurricanes
    • Kingsland Knights
    • Lanesboro Burros
    • LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals
    • Mabel-Canton Cougars
    • Rushford-Peterson Trojans
    • Spring Grove Lions
  • Columnists
  • Commentary
  • Obituaries
  • Police/Court
  • Legal Notices
  • Veterans
    • Fillmore County Veterans
    • Houston & Mower County Veterans
  • Professional Directory

Wendell Albert Watts

July 1, 2025 by Fillmore County Journal 2 Comments

Wendell Watts obituary, Fillmore County Journal

Wendell Albert Watts, age 98, formerly of Preston, passed away on June 23, 2025. He was born on September 17, 1926, to his parents Albert and Bertha Watts. He grew up on their dairy farm known as “Watts’ Brothers” close to Preston in southeastern Minnesota. He attended District 67 country school for eight years followed by high school in Preston, Minn., graduating at 16 years of age. After graduation, Wendell farmed in partnership with his dad Albert, and his uncle George, on their 320-acre diversified dairy farm.

Wendell and Verna Sorum were married on June 6, 1948. They set up housekeeping on the home farm.  Their first two children, Kristine and Karen were born in 1950 and 1951.

Due to health reasons, Wendell left the farm in 1957. The family moved into Preston. He began working for the Preston Creamery Association. While in Preston, the last two of their four children were born, Garry in 1958 and Wesley in 1963. 

In 1960, Wendell helped organize and became the first manager of a cooperative in Preston known as The Preston Marketing Association. In 1963, Wendell accepted the position of general manager of the Waukon Cooperative Creamery in Waukon, Iowa.  The family moved to Waukon in November  1963 where they would live for the next 16 years.  During this time, Kristine, Karen and Garry graduated from Waukon High School.  The girls were later married in Waukon.

In 1970, Wendell was instrumental in the formation of a new dairy farmer cooperative, Meadow Land Dairy Association.  He was named assistant manager and four months later became the general manager of the new cooperative. He held that position nine years until the farmer members of Meadow Land Dairy voted to merge with Wisconsin Dairies of Baraboo, Wis.

Wendell, Verna and Wesley, a high school junior, moved to Reedsburg, Wis., with Wesley graduating the following year. The family moved so Wendell could work out of the corporate office of Wisconsin Dairies as manager of the Cheese Division. He held this position until retirement from the dairy industry on May 1, 1994, after 39 years of dedicated service to dairy farmers.  

During January 1995, Wendell began another career. It was with Tentmakers Youth Ministry of Minneapolis, Minn.  He worked as youth ministry consultant throughout the state of Wisconsin for eight years, helping churches find and hire a young person, who would then be trained by Tentmakers, to work as a youth minister with their young people. Wendell finally retired in January 2003.

Because of Wendell’s deep love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, he served on every church board and most committees through the years. His passion was teaching high school Sunday School classes, which he did for 50 years! 

After 32 years in Reedsburg, Wis., Wendell and Verna sold their home and moved in April of 2011, to Sartell, Minn., near St. Cloud. The move brought them closer to family that lived in Minnesota. 

Wendell’s hobbies included evangelizing, scenic photography, fishing and gardening.  He loved to raise tomatoes and ground cherries. In fact, he loved making ground cherry pie and sharing with his friends at Woodcrest of Country Manor in St. Joseph, Minn. 

Wendell’s wife Verna preceded him in death on July 25, 2021. They were married 73 years.

Survivors include Kristine (Dale) Hellickson of St. Cloud, Minn., Karen (Tom) Gibson of East Bethel, Minn., Garry (Debbie) Watts of Minnetrista, Minn., Wesley (Ann) Watts of Hartwell, Ga., 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. 

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 16, at Abounding Joy Lutheran Church, 6000 County Rd 120, St. Cloud, MN 56303. Visitation 10 a.m., service 11 a.m.

May God bless the memory of Wendell Watts among us.

Filed Under: Obituaries Tagged With: Preston

Comments

  1. Marlois Jorgenson says

    July 2, 2025 at 7:54 am

    So sorry for your loss! What a wonderful man Wendell was and a good friend of my dad, Aymour Gabbert, many years ago in Preston. Karen, I remember our elementary school friendship fondly. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers 🙏

    Reply
  2. Lois Fruechte says

    July 1, 2025 at 8:50 pm

    RIP Dear Wendell

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FILLMORE COUNTY WEATHER

Fillmore County Journal - Your number one source for news and community information in Fillmore County Minnesota

NEWS

  • Features
  • Agriculture
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business
  • Education
  • Faith & Worship
  • Government
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Outdoors

More FCJ

  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Commentary
  • Police/Court
  • Classifieds/Legals
  • Social Scenes
  • Special Sections
  • Columnists
  • Journal Writing Project
  • Professional Directory
Fillmore County Journal
  • Home
  • About FCJ
  • Contact FCJ
  • FCJ Staff
  • Employment
  • Advertise
  • Commentary Policies & Submissions

© 2025 · Website Design and Hosting by SMG Web Design of Preston, MN.