William Watson

William Bill Watson, 79, of Great Falls, a retired tavern and hotel owner and U.S. Army veteran, died at a local nursing home on Saturday, March 10, 2012 of natural causes.A funeral liturgy will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Dick Schlosser presiding. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.William G. Watson was born to Anna and Charles Watson in Great Falls, MT on March 21, 1932.Bill graduated from Great Falls High School in 1950.He attended Ventura Junior College for one year, and then went to San Jose State for one year before being drafted into the U. S. Army.He served in the Korean conflict in 1952-1954.He returned to Great Falls and attended the College of Great Falls and graduated in 1955 with a business degree.That same year, he and his brother Bob started running the City Bar which had been built in 1939 by his parents.The two of them took pride in the Bar and created one of the best bars in town.Bill and his brother Bob and two other partners built the Triple Crown Motor Inn in 1978.They sold it in August of 1999.As a bar owner he was one of the founders of the Cascade County Tavern Association and was a very active member.In 2001 he was honored by his fellow association members as an innovator in the bar business. In 2001 he sold the bar to his son, Brad due to suffering a stroke in 1999.Bill loved to hunt and fish all of his life.It didnt matter what time of day or night it was, if there was a fish to be caught or a hunting trip to go on he would be there.There are a lot of stories that are still untold.He loved his cabin on the Smith River and passed the love of both sports onto his sons and grandchildren.Another favorite past time was horse racing.He was a big sponsor of the races and made efforts to keep the sport alive in Great Falls.He also passed his wonderful handicapping skills onto his kids and grandkids.There was never a day that he didnt break even (or so he said), and he always came away with a smile.Bill was a very generous person and would help anyone that was down on their luck without question.Dad, thanks for looking after us and all of our friends, you always had a way to help us or set us straight.Bill Watson married Shirley Moody on July 7, 1956.They had 4 children Pam (Mike) Oien, Brad (Barb) Watson, Jill (Bryan) Dobson and Scott (Marcie) Watson; and nine grandchildren, Ben and Val Oien, Tanner and Paige Watson, and Cody, Chad, and Casey Dobson, and Hayleigh and Tristan Watson. He is also survived by a niece, Karen and three nephews, Robert, Dan and Brian.Bill was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother Robert Watson.To our Mom and (Grandma Shirley) you are a trooper and an angel.Thanks for taking care of Grandpa and making life better for him so we could cherish these last 13 years with him.A special thanks to Hal Snippen and Ken Leland for always being there for Dad.We would also like to thank the Staff of Park Place Health Care Center for taking care of Dad.We will miss you Dad and Grandpa.Donations can be sent to Special Olympics, Montana, 3117 5th Ave. No., Great Falls, MT 59401 or Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St. So., Great Falls, MT59405.Condolences may be left for the family at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.