On the evening of May 25, 2023, David Wayne Watkins of Manning, passed away at the age of 80. He was a well-known local historian, wheelwright, member of the Theodore Roosevelt Amateur Radio Club and the North Dakota Selective Service Board, and a man of the community.
David was born on May 24, 1943, to Wayne and Mary Watkins in Dickinson. He was the third of six children. Being the oldest boy, he helped on the farm to the greatest extent, milking cows, shearing sheep, fixing fences, and hauling water. His younger days were an everyday adventure, as he viewed the farm as a world waiting to be discovered. When school started, life became difficult for him, being an undiagnosed dyslexic, but he persisted and was able to graduate from the eighth grade. Despite the rough beginnings of schooling, which could have easily discouraged his love of education, he ventured off to Wahpeton, taking auto mechanics at a two-year trade school when he was 19. While there, he got recruited by one of his teachers to work on the restoration of a car. Forming a friendship with the teacher took him to Gallatin Gateway, MT, to help repair and restore a museum the teacher purchased. Although he loved the work, he got burnt out from the late nights and early mornings and got a job at a Chrysler dealership in Bozeman, MT. Throughout all of this, David was also in the reserves for the National Guard, which he signed up for in Wahpeton, and served his country for six years. In Bozeman, he learned that he was eligible to attend college in Havre, despite not earning a High School diploma or a GED, so he left for Havre, working three years at the Ford garage to save up enough for college. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in three years and then a Master’s of Science Degree in Vocational Education at Northern Montana College in Havre, MT, taking 15 credits while teaching 10 every quarter and still achieving a 3.8 GPA. He never stopped furthering his education, as until the time of his death, he spent most of his free time reading history books and novels and listening to online lectures. He never passed up an opportunity to learn a new skill and inevitably become an expert at it.
It was at Northern Montana College that he met his wife, Diane Christine Hatler. On October 20, 1973, they were married, and soon after moved to Marquette, MI so Dave could take a job as an Auto-mechanics professor. After a year, they returned to Havre where he continued teaching at Northern Montana College, also serving as Department Chairman of Automotive, Diesel, Agriculture, and Farm Technology, and starting a family. In 1984, they moved to Deer Lodge, MT, where he took a job as the vocational educator at the Montana State Prison, creating inmate work programs, such as a partnership with Toyota, that continued even after his 15 years in the position.
Nothing made Dave happier than sharing his unmatched wisdom with others. He saw every moment as either a learning or teaching opportunity. His interests were numerous, and each turned into expert-level knowledge and demonstration. Although he restored numerous wagons and other historical items, he never credited himself with his work, seeking only to preserve the item’s history. Preservation of history was his passion, and he often passed down family heirlooms to his children and grandchildren as only a college professor could—lecture style.
Alongside sharing his enthusiasm for history with his grandchildren, he loved sharing the love of his land, piling all four of the youngest on his four-wheeler and exploring the property, or taking his daughters for a ride down the county roads to point out homesteads and failed railroad towns.
David is survived by his wife, Diane; his daughters, Amanda (Mike) Housel of Manning, and Leann (Brad) Bidwell of Plevna, MT; his sisters Roberta (Gary-deceased) Fritz of Killdeer, Patricia (Will) Simpfenderfer of Bismarck, and Nancy (Paul) Quarve of Fargo, as well as nine grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Ona Watkins; brother-in-law, Jack Hanewald; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents Wayne and Mary Watkins, brother Gerald Watkins, and sister Cindy Hanewald.
The family extends a special thank you to all the friends and neighbors for the wonderful care and compassion showed during their time of loss.
David’s Celebration of Life Service will be on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service, in Dickinson. Interment will follow at Emerson Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dunn County Museum or the Emerson Cemetery Association.
