Mary Margaret Watson, 73, of Rapid City, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2023 at Bella Vita Assisted Living in Phoenix, AZ.

Mary was born in Rapid City to Joseph and Marjorie (Ewing) Goodsell on August 10, 1949. She graduated from Black Hills State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1970, and received her Master of Arts in Instructional Technology from San Jose State University in 1978. On December 28, 1972, she married Lt. Col Arnold Watson at Vandenberg AFB in California. Mary and Arnie had 45 happy years together.

Mary worked as a teacher and librarian for many years, both in South Dakota and California. During her California years, she and Arnie enjoyed spending time on the wharf in San Francisco as well as the boardwalk and beach in Santa Cruz. During her time in South Dakota, she cultivated her love of gardening, along with cooking, reading, watching Westerns, and spending time with her dog, Jack.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Dr Arnold Archie Watson, her parents, Joseph and Marjorie Goodsell, and her sister, Dianne Joette Burton. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Eve Hoffman of Phoenix, AZ; her brother David Carl Goodsell of Rapid City, and her sister Sheryl Lynn Zayic of Cle Elum, WA.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday May 23rd, 2023 at Osheim Schmidt Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City, SD, 57701.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 at Osheim Schmidt Funeral Home. Burial to follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.