Marlene Watts

Marlene Kay (Heather) Watts, 86 of Billings, MT passed away June 13, 2025 after a brief illness.  Marlene was born May 16, 1939 in Morris, IL, the daughter of John Heather and Margaret Benson.

After her father’s passing, Marlene and her mother moved to Sturgis, SD to be near family who had a homestead outside of town. Her mother worked as a nurse at Fort Meade following WWII. Marlene graduated Sturgis Brown High School in Sturgis, S.D. in 1957.  She went on to Casper College (WY) to study surgical nursing. She returned to the Black Hills to attend classes at Black Hills State College in Spearfish, SD where she met her future husband during organic chemistry class.

Marlene was married to Thomas Watts on August 21, 1964 at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis, South Dakota. Thomas and Marlene lived in Salt Lake City, UT, southern California and Dayton, WY before settling in Casper, WY. They were married 26 years before the passing of Thomas in the fall of 1990. They were proud parents of two children.

Marlene was a bright light of kindness and generosity. She constantly would sing and hum her favorite gospel tunes. Marlene especially loved several hobbies including tole painting, calligraphy, sewing and crafting. Marlene was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Casper, WY for nearly fifty years before moving to Billings, MT.

Marlene is survived by her daughter, Heather and son-in-law John Repac of Billings, MT and her son, John and daughter-in-law Sarah Watts of Aurora, CO.

Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas, her brother William Heather of Buffalo, N.Y., her parents John and Margaret (Benson) Heather.

Memorial services will be Friday, June 27th at 11:00 a.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D. with Pastor Kevin Jensen officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Marlene may be directed to the American Cancer Society.