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Marion M. Oviatt

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Marion M. Oviatt

Birth	:	28 Oct 1919
Death	:	9 Apr 2020 Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.9164009, -97.0986023
Description	:	Marion M. Oviatt, (widow of Ross Oviatt), age 100, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Jenkins Living Center. Private family graveside services will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. A public memorial service will take place at a later date. Marion Oviatt’s life story is a century of love, kindness, gratitude, service, and unshakable faith. Born October 28, 1919, she peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Jenkins Living Center. A public memorial/celebration service will be scheduled in the future. Memorials are suggested to: First United Methodist Church, Jenkins... Read More	Marion M. Oviatt, (widow of Ross Oviatt), age 100, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Jenkins Living Center. Private family graveside services will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. A public memorial service will take place at a later date. Marion Oviatt’s life story is a century of love, kindness, gratitude, service, and unshakable faith. Born October 28, 1919, she peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Jenkins Living Center. A public memorial/celebration service will be scheduled in the future. Memorials are suggested to: First United Methodist Church, Jenkins Living Center Foundation, Glacial Lakes Humane Society, Watertown Area Community Foundation or Mellette House. Marion’s favorite things were never things—only relationships. These included her parents, her husband of 48 years, five children, six grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. She truly loved us. Marion shared and accepted both joys and sorrows. She balanced adoration with tough love when needed. She loved dogs and horses and frequently reminded us that, “People who don’t love dogs just don’t know what they miss!” Her family remembers at least ten dogs who loved Marion more than anyone else and who undoubtedly greeted her joyfully at the gates moments after she passed. Marion’s roots in the Watertown area run deep. Her parents were children of immigrants who settled in Deuel and Hamlin Counties. Andrew Melham was a banker and Lulu B. Adams a teacher in Hazel. They moved to Watertown where Marion was born at home in 1919. She graduated from Watertown High School in 1937 and from the University of South Dakota in 1942. Sorority living at the University was a life-changing experience as she enjoyed the joy of having and sharing with “sisters” for the first time in her life—she made life-long sorority friends. While working on a campus election at USD, she met and fell in love with Ross H. Oviatt—a farm boy who grew up on the Oviatt Dairy farm near Huron. They married on October 12, 1943, when Ross got a brief leave from the US Navy. They lived on both coasts during WWII and Ross served on the aircraft carrier USS Wake Island in the Pacific theatre. After the war, they returned to Watertown and Marion focused on raising five children, taking care of her parents, and serving her church and community. She was preceded in death by her brother, two of her sons (Stephen and Randy), her parents, and her loving husband of 48 years, Ross H. Oviatt who passed in 1991. She is survived by three children: Timothy (Mei-Wun), Jonathan (Berit), and Nancy Oviatt Titze (Blair) all of Watertown. She is also survived by six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Marion’s service to her church and community were great sources of joy in her life. Marion always made long-term commitments, was impeccable with her word, and kept every promise she made. She was a life-long member of First United Methodist Church where she praised God and served in every way possible. She loved her P.E.O. sisters and was a member for 75 years. Restoring and sharing the Mellette House with the public was a passion of hers after her mother was instrumental in initially saving Mellette House from demolition; Marion served on its board for 44 years Marion was active in a wide range of community and political activities too numerous to mention. She loved Lake Kampeska where she lived summers since she was five years old. Jenkins Living Center was a major focus of Marion’s efforts. She was a member of its Board of Directors for 20 years and a founding board member of the Jenkins Living Center Foundation. She moved into Maple Place in 1994 and into Jenkins Living Center in 2013. Marion expressed her gratitude for the Jenkins staff and fellow residents every day and they became her second family. Marion’s faith was the source of her strength. Marion and her faith were deeply tested—she lost her brother due to a tragic accident when she was in college and then lost a two-year old son and a twenty-three year old son in accidents. She was never bitter—she grew in wisdom and faith and simply became better. Her character remains an inspiration to all who knew her. Her gratitude for each person who touched her life is remarkable. Marion avoided recognition and felt that all she did and accomplished was simply part of her God-given purpose in life. She often reminded her family of her father’s saying, “Fool’s names and fool’s faces are always seen in public places.” She would definitely feel that this obituary is too long and very embarrassing….so we shall say no more. - Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Marion M. Oviatt's memorial?
Marion M. Oviatt's memorial is located at: Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown, Codington County, USA.
When did Marion M. Oviatt death?
Marion M. Oviatt death on 9 Apr 2020 in Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Marion M. Oviatt's memorial?
Latitude: 44.9164009
Longitude: -97.0986023

Family Members:

Spouse

Ross H. Oviatt

(1918 - 1991)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mount Hope Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9164009, -97.0986023

2. Saint Marys Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8908005, -97.0836029

3. Mother of God Monastery Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8678000, -97.1181000

4. Schneiders Grove Cemetery
Kranzburg Township, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8786968, -96.9435766

5. Spooner Children Graves
Kranzburg Township, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8786968, -96.9435766

6. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Waverly, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9963989, -96.9697037

7. Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Rauville, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 45.0432053, -97.0844650

8. Holy Rosary Cemetery
Kranzburg, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8946991, -96.9182968

9. Kampeska Cemetery
Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8703003, -97.2778015

10. Saint Peter's Catholic Cemetery
Grover, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8118500, -97.2690600

11. Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8039017, -97.2671967

12. Esterly Cemetery
Florence, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 45.0564003, -97.2281036

13. Oxford Cemetery
Thomas, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7607900, -97.2134400

14. Saint Lukes Lutheran Cemetery
Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 45.0926094, -97.0336533

15. Goodwin Cemetery
Goodwin, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8792000, -96.8242035

16. Castlewood Cemetery
Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7183200, -97.0264800

17. Bemis Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8333015, -96.8343964

18. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7176575, -97.0239113

19. Klix Cemetery
Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 45.1250000, -97.0465500

20. Christian Reformed Cemetery
Bemis, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7757000, -96.8751000

21. Troy Cemetery
Grant County, USA
Coordinate: 45.0513992, -96.8613968

22. Evergreen Presbyterian Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7747002, -96.8657990

23. Larson Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9347000, -96.7893982

24. Lakeview Cemetery
South Shore, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 45.1065950, -96.9335260