On the morning of Monday, February 17, 2020, Deborah Lynne Ellston passed away at the age of 62. Deborah, known to so many as “Debbie” or “Deb”, was born in Vermillion, South Dakota on April 10, 1957.

For Debbie, life was never about judging the day by the harvest reaped, but by the seeds she planted. She had a love for plants and trees (and a budding career at Lakeland Nursery in Watertown to show for it), but plants and trees were not her favorite thing to nurture and grow. For over 30 years, Debbie cared for children of the Watertown community at her home daycare. Debbie’s Daycare was so much more than just a childcare option; she instilled in her “kids” values such as empathy, humility and intellectual curiosity. She did this through her day-to-day preschool teachings as well as going above and beyond through countless hours at the Watertown Library and numerous trips over the years to Storybook Land in Aberdeen, SD. She also sought to get many of her “kids” involved in the Town Players shows she directed over the years. Like her favorite Gerber Daisy, you bloom where you are planted and for Debbie, that was Watertown.

Debbie was preceded in death by her mother. She is survived by her son, Christopher, his wife Melanie, and the greatest blessings and joys of her life, the most important kids she helped to grow, her two grandchildren, Benjamin and Miles.

To honor her wishes, there will be no traditional funeral service. Instead, there will be a tree planting on her birthday, April 10th. Details for this event are to come.