Nila J. Davis

Nila J. Davis, age 83, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Friday, January 9, 2026 at Avantara Watertown. A private family service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. Pastor Janet Miller will officiate.  

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 5 – 7 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday following the visitation. 

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.

Nila was born on March 17, 1942, in rural Vienna, SD, to Charles and Lorraine (Seefeldt) Thoreson. Her family attended Our Savior Lutheran Church when she was a young child. She attended Country school as a child and graduated from Henry High School. She went to Girls State and graduated from SDSU.

On November 14, 1964, Nila married Doug at Our Savior Lutheran Church in rural Henry, SD.  She and Doug met at age 13 and 15 while at Church Teen League. She and Doug have been together for 70+ years and, yes, she was the “Best”.

Nila started working at Farmers and Merchants Bank, now known as First Interstate Bank, for over 30 years and retired as VP at the age of 53.

Nila was a member of Grace Lutheran church and was very active in the church.  She did activities such as being a teacher for Sunday and Bible school and many other things at the church.

Nila enjoyed collecting angels and her flowers. She especially enjoyed making ceramics and giving as gifts. She loved going to the farm and enjoying the countryside. She enjoyed all of her pictures of them and now of all her family and things. She loved her only doll she ever had and especially loved her “well used” bible.

 Nila is survived by her husband, Doug, of Watertown; two brothers, Milan (Diane) Thoreson, of Hurricane, UT, Alwyn “Al” Thoreson, of Rapid City, SD; and several nieces and nephews.

 Nila was preceded in death by her parents and one sister-in-law, Mavis Thoreson.

 Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.come Watertown and Hayti.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nila J. Davis, please visit our floral store.