Neva Lauretta (Welty) Bridgwater

Neva Lauretta (Welty) Bridgwater, 96, of Aitkin died Saturday, September 20, 2025 at the Good Samaritan Home in Battle Lake.  She was born August 17, 1929 on the family farm in Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa the daughter of Howard James and Lela Belle (Whitson) Welty.  In 1934 the family moved from Iowa to Wigwam Bay-Mille Lacs Lake where Neva grew up.  She was the first Homecoming Queen for Onamia High School, graduating in 1948.  She married Lowell William Munson in 1950 and they had 3 children together, later they divorced.  She was the physical education teacher at Onamia schools from 1955 – 1957.  She moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida and worked as a graphic designer for Pan Am.  In 1960 she moved back to Minnesota and was a teacher in Garrison for 2 years. She married Douglas Campbell Williams in 1972.  Douglas later passed away.  Neva was the human resource director at Brainerd Community College from 1978 – 1982, then moved to Minnetonka area and was the community resource director for the Edina Police Department.  She moved back to Mille Lacs Lake and met and married Trevor Bridgwater on October 5, 2003.  Neva loved the trees and being outdoors at her home  She was able to do that until a couple months ago when she had to move in to the nursing home, but in doing that, she was able to be near her daughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents Howard and Lela Welty;

Son Greg Lowell Munson; Husbands: Lowell Munson, Douglas Williams and Trevor Bridgwater, Brother Francis James Welty. 

Neva is survived by daughters: Diana Hanson of Arkansas and Denise (Gary) Anderson of Ottertail, MN.; 8 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild; Sister-in-law Barbara Welty; and many special nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends who mourn her passing.

Funeral service will be 11:00am – Monday, September 29, 2025 at St. Therese – Little Flower Mission Church in Vineland.  Fr. Jerry Schik o.s.c. will be the officiant.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be in Bennettville Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin.  to leave a message of condolence please go to www.srtfuneral.com

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