The Dockendorfs are deeply woven into Watkins history. There is not much in the community that they have not been involved in or contributed to. And they are pretty much a package: it’s rare to see one without the other.
Ron has lived all his life in Watkins. Mary arrived to Watkins (from Annandale) when she was in the fifth grade. Both attended St. Anthony School and Eden Valley-Watkins High School, although at different times; their paths did not cross at school. Instead, Mary took an interest in one of her friends’ older brother, and the rest, as they say, is history.
“All I wanted was a date,” Ron jokes. Five children, 17 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild later, it would seem that it worked out. They will celebrate their 44th anniversary later this year.
The Dockendorfs were named this year by the Watkins Fire Department to be the grand marshals for Kraut N Wurst. When Ron Kramer called from the Fire Department to ask them to be grand marshals, Ron says he was surprised to be asked. “Us??” was Mary’s response. Both are overwhelmed by the honor. Neither one had seen it coming.
The honor is usually for someone who has contributed significantly to the community, and the Dockendorfs certainly fit that bill.
For 40 years, Ron and Mary owned and operated Dockendorf Bus Service, safely delivering children to and from school each day, plus lots of field trips, ball games, and more. By the time they sold the business to 4.0 in 2021, they had transported many second-generation kids, and even a few grandchildren of their original passengers. For 40 years, they had their summers “off.” During the school year, Mary drives a preschool bus, and Ron subs as a driver as needed.
They loved the kids. Ron would sing “Happy Birthday” to any of his charges when it was their birthday; he did that hundreds of times, he figures. As an extra perk, the birthday boy or girl got to be the first one off the bus when they got to school. It was easy to have relationships with the kids back then, Ron says, noting that it’s different today.
It’s clear that this was a big part of their lives and history in Watkins.
But it isn’t the only thing. Ron got into real estate, and founded Riverview Realty which for 13 years occupied a building on main street in Watkins. The building was sold to The Red Goat for their expansion, and Ron sold the real estate business to Karen Derichs who established the office in Eden Valley. Ron figures he’s closed about 400 sales in his 23 years in real estate so far. He still does the occasional real estate deal, but he sees himself more of a matchmaker – connecting people with just the right property – than just a sales guy.
Both Ron and Mary played softball in Watkins for about 30 years, both co-ed and mens’ or womens’ teams. Local towns used to have one to five teams each (Watkins had five), and they would rotate games. Their five kids were practically raised on softball fields, they say. One of their teams still gets together every year to reminisce. They also played a lot of volleyball.
The Dockendorfs have owned other businesses over the years, including Riverwood Storage (11 years) and Watkins Laundromat (four years, until it burned down in 1994), and a few others along the way. Mary also worked at the Watkins Medical Clinic and at Watkins Floral.
They have been involved in the Kimball Chamber of Commerce, the Watkins Civic Park Board, the Church of St. Anthony, Hilltop Health Care Center advisory board, Watkins planning and zoning committee, Watkins Economic Development Authority, the annual Santa Day play and program, hosting the Easter Egg Hunt for several years, and emceeing many Little Miss Watkins and other events – including the 1988 Miss Watkins competition (for older girls), part of the Watkins centennial celebration. Their children learned how to volunteer growing up, one of the many advantages to living in a small-town community.
They’ve always played lots of golf, especially at the Kimball Golf Club. They continue to play a lot now that they are sort of retired (perhaps as retired as they’re going to be for awhile).
During our visit, Ron and Mary recounted some of Watkins’ history that they’ve been a part of. They are great repositories of history, and stories, and memorabilia as well. They recalled the days when a Kraut N Wurst button was good for a dinner in the St. Anthony School basement: a dinner of kraut and wurst, by the way.
They don’t really have the travel bug, so that’s not on their retirement agenda. Four of their five children live in Watkins, and the fifth is about an hour away. And Ron says he’s already seen much of what Minnesota has to offer, from the driver’s seat of a school bus.
Although they have a lovely home in the country west of Watkins, they also love to spend time at their lake place on School Section Lake near Kimball. Watkins will always be their permanent home.
They’re also busy watching their grandchildren’s activities. They figure they’ve been to 40 baseball games this year alone.
“I hope we added to the history [of Watkins] in a positive way,” said Ron. There is now no question about that, Ron.
Ron and Mary will ride in the Kraut N Wurst parade Saturday, Aug. 5, in a white Mustang. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. You may also see them working a shift at the burger stand later in the day. Be sure to wave and say “hi” during Kraut N Wurst.