Kenneth LeRoy Otto, 70, Minot, died Monday, May 31, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer in his home with his loving wife by his side.
Ken was born March 26, 1940, in Conway, N.D., to Emily (Johnson) and William Otto Sr. He was raised and educated in the Velva area.
Ken enlisted into the U.S. Navy on Jan. 11, 1961, in Fargo. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam conflict aboard the USS Kennebec until his honorable discharge from active service on Jan. 8, 1965. He went on to serve an additional two more years in the U.S. Navy reserves.
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Ken was united in marriage to Helen Dahlberg Scott on April 15, 1988, in Minot, where they made their home. Ken made his living with his hands working in the construction field. He was employed by Mac, Inc. of Glenburn as a welder until ill health forced him to retire in August 2009.
He was a lover of outdoor activities that included hunting, fishing and camping at the Hall farmstead located near Bottineau. His passion was the art of winemaking, utilizing the apples, cherries and grapes, grown in his own yard by his own hand.
Ken will be deeply missed for all of these activities that he shared, but will never be forgotten.
Ken was once married to Linda Herman and they were blessed with a daughter, Debbie Jo.
Surviving family includes: Loving wife of 22 years, Helen, Minot; daughter, Debbie Jo (Jason) Hartung, Sawyer; stepdaughters, Julie (Randy) Burgard, Bismarck, and Angela Scott, Burnsville, Minn.; stepson, Jeff Hahn, Minot; eight grandchildren, Kristina LaFournaise, Rebecca Wentzel, Tia-Lee Whitted, Amanda Skadsem, Andrew Skadsem, Taylor LaFournaise, Kaden Burgard and Koby Hahn; five great-grandchildren, Cameron and Kimber Whitted, Trey Oden, and Zoey and Emma Wentzel; sisters, Joyce (Gerald) Tiegen, Newport, Ore., and Carol (Gerald) Reif, Garrison; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ken was preceded in death by: his parents; sisters, Wanda Brevig, Julia Sandberg, and Sharon Klimpel; and brothers, William Jr., Gordon, Albert and Orville.
Funeral service: Tuesday, June 8, at 10 a.m. at Southside Church of the Nazarene, Minot.
Interment: Tuesday, June 8, at 3 p.m. at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan.
Visitation: Monday, June 7, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Those wanting to sign the online memorial register or share memories and condolences are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at (www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com).
