Bob Watson

Bobby “Bob” Watson, 44, of Bismarck, ND, passed away October 7, 2024, at Sanford Medical Center, Bismarck. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, October 15, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bismarck with Fr. Jared Johnson officiating. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00-7:00 PM, Monday, October 14, accompanied by a vigil rosary service at DaWise-Perry Mandan Crematory, 4211 Old Red Trail, Mandan. An additional visitation will occur one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck.
Bob was born January 28, 1980, at St. Alexius hospital in Bismarck, ND, to Dennis Watson and Kathy (Roy) Watson. He was raised and educated in Mandan, ND, class of 1998. As a high school student, Bob participated in multiple school activities: chorus, football, school plays and musicals. His favorite subject in school was Spanish. One of his favorite memories from high school was his trip to Spain and the experiences and memories he made on that adventure. He recently made plans to go back to school to become a Spanish teacher.
Bob spent a few years living in Iowa before returning to his roots in North Dakota. Bob had a magnetic personality and welcomed every person he met into his life. He spent many years working in the restaurant industry and made many connections along the way. He enjoyed playing darts, singing karaoke, and watching his 49ers football team. He loved taking road trips with his wife and daughter and learning the most random facts that he could use at his next trivia night. Bob was termed “a walking encyclopedia” by his family and everyone wanted to be on his team when it came to Trivial Pursuit. His charismatic personality and teasing nature always brought joy into the lives of his loved ones.
The light of his life, his daughter Abigail, was born December 15, 2010, in Jamestown, ND. Bob cherished his role as a father. He married his soulmate, Tara Schmitz-Watson, on March 29, 2019, in St. Augustine, FL. They shared the last eight years of their life as a family building countless memories together.
He is survived by his wife, Tara Schmitz-Watson of Bismarck; daughter, Abigail Watson of Bismarck; mother, Kathy Watson of Bismarck; sisters, Denise Watson (Jeff) of San Antonio, TX, and Kim Hertz (Darren) of Bismarck; brothers, Jay Watson of Mandan and Patrick Watson of Bismarck; in-laws, Wayne and Roberta Schmitz of Elgin; brothers-in-law, Sheldon of Bismarck and Shawn (Heather) of Dickinson; numerous nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, and his cats, Lenny and Elmer.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, Dennis Watson; maternal grandparents, Joyce and Alexander Roy; and paternal grandparents, Wilma and Albert Watson.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the ICU doctors and nursing staff at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck for their exceptional care of Bob and his family during this time. Bob’s spirit will live on through others with the gift of organ donation.
Funeral arrangements are being made with DaWise-Perry / Mandan Crematory, Mandan, North Dakota.