Christine Ann Watt, 55, of Estelline, SD, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at home with her children by her side after a brave and hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 8, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline, SD. Visitation will be held the night prior from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline. Geise Funeral Home will live-stream the Funeral Service at www.geisefuneralhome.com website, you may click on the link above Chris’s obituary.
Christine Ann Green was born on Nov. 27, 1968, in Ashland, WI, the daughter of Clifford and Caroline (Johnson) Green. Chris grew up in Ashland and graduated from High School in 1987. She attended one year at Luther College in Decorah, IA, and continued her education at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She graduated from UMD in 1992 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Elementary Education and a Minor in Music.
Chris married the love of her life, Jeffrey Watt on June 18, 1994, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Ashland, WI. They were blessed with two children, Samuel and Molly.
Chris had a love for music. In high school, she played in band and orchestra and sang in choir and show choir. College followed with singing and traveling to Europe with the top college choir and playing in the pep band. She started teaching piano lessons when she moved to Estelline and has taught countless students from 1993 until she stopped teaching piano in January 2024.
Chris’s faith was important to her from a young age. She was active in her Good Shepherd youth group. Then she taught Sunday school at Trinity and helped lead the youth group. She served on the Council and the church’s Board of Education.
She taught at the Estelline School District from 1993 until she needed to resign due to her health. Chris subbed while her children were young and became full-time after they were both in school. During this time, Chris garnered many certifications and degrees to be able to continue teaching in her beloved school. She was willing to meet the needs of children and took joy in it. She took great pride in being the vocal music teacher and putting on concerts every year.
Chris loved to travel and was fortunate as a child to travel to DC, New Mexico, and a trip around Wisconsin. As a college student she traveled to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland with University Singers at UMD. She enjoyed trips to the Black Hills and Alaska with Jeff for their 25th Anniversary in 2019. She also went to Washington DC with Molly twice and visited New York City.
Hobbies included teaching piano lessons, reading, watching movies, spending time with family, watching Sam at his tractor pulls, going on walks with Molly and loved dog, Dixie, and getting her nails done with Molly.
Chris chose to see the best in everyone and every situation. This reigned true with her diagnosis in June of 2023. She chose to have hope and a positive attitude. She was a true fighter and passed peacefully, secure in her destination. Chris knew she would see her savior and looked forward to being united with her husband.
Those left to honor her memory are her children Sam and Molly; mother, Caroline Green (Cliff Ceske) of Ashland, WI; sister Barb Ramlow (Dan Maves) of Amherst Junction, WI; brother Ryan (Vicky) Green, of Cloquet, MN. Sisters-in-law, Linda (LaVerne) Mennenga, of Castlewood, SD; and Lori (Marty) Stanwick, of Brookings, SD; Aunts and Uncles, Jim (Kathy) Green; Harvey Green. 13 nieces and nephews: Lisa Rodman, Lexi (Bob) Seeley, Lance (Heidi) Mennenga, Darcie (Tony) Montemayor, Darrin (Ashlee) Norgaard, Kylie (Austin) Gackstetter, Maggie Stanwick (Christopher Pratt), Cris Ramlow, Alex Ramlow, Faith Green, Noah Green, Hannah Green (Judah Wallace), Sophia Green and 13 great nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Jeff, her father, Clifford Green, parents-in-law, Angus and Pearl Watt, sister-in-law Lana Norgaard, and a host of aunts and uncles.
Chris will be deeply missed, never forgotten, and always loved.
