Dora Watson, longtime Frazee, Thief River Falls resident celebrated her 105th birthday this past weekend with family and friends at her daughter, Carol and John, Lovly home in Goodrich, Minn. 

Dora was born in Perham, Gorman Township, July 27, 1921 and grew up in the three-bedroom family farm with her 10 brothers and sisters. She attended Frazee Public Schools and was a ‘standout’ on the girls basketball team. 

In 1938, she married Glenn Watson and they had eight children, Ruth Ewanika, (Ed) Frazee, Patrick Watson, (Esther Jennings), Green Valley, Arizona, Lowell Watson, (Holly Willprecht), North Port, Florida, Pam Berg, Rochester, Carol Lovly, (John), Goodrich, Tom Watson, (Karolyn Dahlgren), Frazee. Glenn Watson, (Kim Fanfulik), Thief River Falls, Merilyn Norden, (Terrie), Grand Rapids. All but one were able to attend this celebration. Dora currently resides in Oakland Park Nursing Home, Thief River Falls.

Interestingly, there were three different groups of (all living) five generations at this event. Dora has always been active and one of her claims to fame was her influence on her grandchildren to begin quilting as a pastime, of which at least 15 are now still actively quitting, one of which has her quilts in national publications. Dora belonged to the Mount Zion Lutheran Church Quilting group that made hundreds of book bags, mittens, hats and quilts for children’s charities around the world. She alone is credited with knitting over 100 pairs of mittens for children. Currently she is making hot pads out of close line rope covered with fabric. Dora has many grandchildren including several great-great-great grandchildren.