Donald Otte

Donald R. "Don" Otte, age 68, of Sauk Centre, died Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family after a long courageous battle of cancer of 21 years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 19 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Interment will be at Oakland Cemetery in Sauk Centre with military honors by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Donald Raymond Otte was born June 20, 1945 in Melrose, Minnesota to Harold and Alberta (Gamradt) Otte. He joined the Naval Reserves in 1963 and was ordered into active duty with the U.S. Navy during 1967 to 1972. During his time in the Navy, he was on the USS Neptune, traveling to the Philippines and Hawaii. He married Edna Dalton on August 27, 1966 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre.

Don was avid about farming. He had great pride in winning many awards from the NCGA (National Corn Growers Association) for his high yields of corn in Ridge-Till. Don was very concerned about conservation in his farming practices. He truly enjoyed being a Stearns County Commissioner for the past 14 years. Don loved helping people. He was dedicated to his constituents and the numerous boards he was affiliated with. Don was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He had a sense of humor and a kind heart. His knowledge, creativity, influences, and inspiration was admired by all. Don enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, going fishing, hunting, gardening, and trapping gophers. His grandchildren idolized him.

Survivors include his wife, Edna Otte of Sauk Centre; daughter, Pam (Joel) Durbin of Sauk Centre and their children, Brandon and Katelyn; daughter, Jane (Kevin) Bontje of Sioux Falls, SD and their children, Kelsey and Lucas; son, Jeff (Stacey) Otte of Sauk Centre and their children, Shelby and Riley; mother, Alberta Otte of Sauk Centre; sisters, Laura Moscho (friend, Barry) of St. Cloud, Karen Scott of Sauk Centre, and Sonja (Brent) Miller of Sauk Centre; brother-in-law, Chuck Harris of Sauk Centre; special friends, Dave and Sharon Gamradt of Sauk Centre; nieces; nephews; aunts; and uncles.

Don was preceded in death by his father, Harold Otte; sister, Marilyn Harris; and brother-in-law, Don Scott.

Serving as casket bearers will be Brad Winter, Howard Marthaler, Lee Wolbeck, Rick Kingsbury, Alan Schmitz, and Vernon Karasch. Cross bearers will be the six grandchildren and scripture bearers will be Don's nieces, Sara Lunneborg and Jennifer Wagner. Gift bearers will be Adam, Evan and Ryan Wolbeck. Eulogies will be read by Mark Sakry and Jeff Bertram. Honorary bearers will be Dave and Sharon Gamradt, Mick and Sue Engle, Don and Shirley Finken, Virgil Niehaus, Pete Hinnenkamp, Ron and Pam Siverhus, and the County Commissioners.