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Mary Bowen Aug 30 2007
Funeral services for Mary E. Bowen, age 90, of Solon, IA formerly of Watertown, SD will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD. Pastor Tom Christenson will officiate. Music will be provided by Peggy Biswell, organist, and Lee Ann Maag, soloist. Mary passed away on August 30, 2007 at a care center in Solon, IA. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. Pallbearers will be: Darrell Redlin, David Wensing, J.D. Locke, and Tim Moes. Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Monday from 5-7 p.m. and Tuesday preceding services at the chapel. The family is requested to meet at the chapel on Tuesday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Mary was born on March 29, 1917 at Florence, SD to Roscoe and Isabelle (Russell) Collins. She completed the eighth grade at a rural country school. As a young woman, Mary loved to travel. She worked at several defense plants beginning in 1937 in Colorado, 1938 in California and late 1938 in Portland, OR where she installed pilot seats in B-17 and B-29s. She also worked at a defense plant in Seattle, WA. Mary married Joe E. Bowen on October 26, 1948 at Watertown, SD. Mary supported herself through nursing school and became an LPN in the mid 1940s. She worked as a nurse in St. Ann’s Hospital, Watertown, SD for approximately thirty-two years with twenty-five of those years as charge nurse of the nursery. When the nursery closed, she stayed on for seven more years on the med/surg floor and assisted a visiting oncologist. Mary stated that working in the nursery was the best job in the world. She also received recognition as employee of the month many times. Mary retired on February 29, 1986. Mary enjoyed fishing and lived on a lake where she could fish year round. She also enjoyed reading, bowling, playing cards, eating, baking, and cooking. Throughout the years, Mary shared her baking and cooking goods with many others. She loved animals. Mary also traveled to many states as well as Europe in 1999. She enjoyed touring Europe with her daughter and granddaughter, Laurie. Mary was a loving, caring, and generous person. She made friends easily and always had a beautiful smile on her face. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy and her husband, Dennis Billington, of Cedar Rapids, IA and two granddaughters, Laurie Billington of Pueblo, CO and Amy Billington of Youngstown, OH. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and one brother, Everett Collins.

Mary Bowen
Aug 30 2007

Funeral services for Mary E. Bowen, age 90, of Solon, IA formerly of Watertown, SD will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD. Pastor Tom Christenson will officiate. Music will be provided by Peggy Biswell, organist, and Lee Ann Maag, soloist. Mary passed away on August 30, 2007 at a care center in Solon, IA.

Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD. Pallbearers will be: Darrell Redlin, David Wensing, J.D. Locke, and Tim Moes.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Monday from 5-7 p.m. and Tuesday preceding services at the chapel. The family is requested to meet at the chapel on Tuesday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

Mary was born on March 29, 1917 at Florence, SD to Roscoe and Isabelle (Russell) Collins. She completed the eighth grade at a rural country school. As a young woman, Mary loved to travel. She worked at several defense plants beginning in 1937 in Colorado, 1938 in California and late 1938 in Portland, OR where she installed pilot seats in B-17 and B-29s. She also worked at a defense plant in Seattle, WA.

Mary married Joe E. Bowen on October 26, 1948 at Watertown, SD. Mary supported herself through nursing school and became an LPN in the mid 1940s. She worked as a nurse in St. Ann’s Hospital, Watertown, SD for approximately thirty-two years with twenty-five of those years as charge nurse of the nursery. When the nursery closed, she stayed on for seven more years on the med/surg floor and assisted a visiting oncologist. Mary stated that working in the nursery was the best job in the world. She also received recognition as employee of the month many times. Mary retired on February 29, 1986.

Mary enjoyed fishing and lived on a lake where she could fish year round. She also enjoyed reading, bowling, playing cards, eating, baking, and cooking. Throughout the years, Mary shared her baking and cooking goods with many others. She loved animals. Mary also traveled to many states as well as Europe in 1999. She enjoyed touring Europe with her daughter and granddaughter, Laurie.

Mary was a loving, caring, and generous person. She made friends easily and always had a beautiful smile on her face.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathy and her husband, Dennis Billington, of Cedar Rapids, IA and two granddaughters, Laurie Billington of Pueblo, CO and Amy Billington of Youngstown, OH.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and one brother, Everett Collins.

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