Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
William "Bill" L. Herman, 85, of Watertown, SD passed away May 2nd, 2020, peacefully at home. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Watertown. Services will be open to the public and will also be live-streamed. Rev. Steve Anderson will officiate. Music will be provided by Elaine Vanderlaan as organist. The family is requested to meet at the church on Wednesday by 1:30 p.m. for a prayer service.
Public visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Wednesday.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be Joey Capp, Freeman McInroy, Larry Howell and Bob Shafer. Active pallbearers will be Travis Dowding, Hayden Dowding, Don Seim, Don Kropp, Doug Skoglund and Doug Enstad.
Bill was born July 30th, 1934 to William C. and Alice (Wagner) Herman of Watertown, SD. Growing up in Watertown, Bill graduated from WHS in 1952. After playing football for SDSU, Bill proudly served in the US Army from 1957 to 1959 with honorable discharge.
Bill returned to Watertown and married Sharon Rasmussen October 29th, 1961 in Vienna, SD. He was a member of the Cornerstone Methodist Church, where he served as a greeter and usher. He worked for the Municipal Utilities for 36 years. Bill also drove for Jackrabbit/Foreman bus lines for 30 years. He loved driving the Watertown Arrows to their events, and he proudly carried the title "Bus Driver Bill". Being one of Watertown's #1 sports fans, Bill was honored with being named "Friend of Football" by the SD Football Coaches Association. He was a 60 year member of the Elks Club, and he was also a member of Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited. He drove the city water truck along Hwy 81 keeping the flowers and Watertown beautiful.
Bill played and enjoyed football, basketball, baseball, and softball throughout his life. Hunting and fishing were also passions especially with his good buddy, Freeman McInroy. He coached his girls' softball teams, enjoying every minute. He umpired boy's baseball until he couldn't out run them. He loved playing pinochle every night with his wife, Sharon.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sharon, of 58 years; their three daughters - Lisa Herman, Lexington, KY, Karla Dowding, Estherville, IA, and Stacey (Kevin) Maurstad, Argyle, MN; his grandsons, Travis and Hayden Dowding and Joey Capp; his sister, Dorothy Jean Tesch, Bemis, SD; his sister-in-law, Shirley Rasmussen, Watertown, SD; and several nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Betty: brothers-in-law, Dennis Tesch, Vernon, Gene, and Dale Rasmussen; one sister-in-law, Carol Rasmussen: and one grandson, Jacob.
Memorials may be made to the Watertown Arrow Education Foundation.
Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel. www.crawfordosthus.com
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