Cecilia Margaret Otte

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MANKATO — Cecelia M. Otte, age 92, of Mankato, formerly of Willmar, died Saturday morning, January 15, at the Sunrise of Mankato Cottages in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 20, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Thursday at the church, with a Daughters of Isabella Rosary at 9:30 a.m.

Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.

Cecelia "Cec" Margaret Ferry was born on January 21, 1918, in Benson, Minnesota, the daughter of Edward and Sena (Vold) Ferry. She grew up in rural Benson, was baptized and confirmed at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in DeGraff and attended rural schools near Benson. She moved with her family to Willmar in 1931 and completed her education, graduating from Willmar High School in 1935. For a time she worked for the National T Grocery Store in Willmar. On July 25, 1950, she was united in marriage to Erwin B. Otte at St. Mary's Church in Willmar. This union was blessed with four children. She was a stay at home Mom until the children were in school. She then went to work at Willmar Municipal Utilities as a billing clerk and retired in 1979. Erv and Cec spent many warm winters in Arizona. Cecelia enjoyed spending time with and raising her family.

Cecelia was treasurer of the Civil Air Patrol and was the first female pilot in Willmar. She acted in the Willmar Community Theater and co-founded the Knuckleheads square dancing group of which she was a member for more that 30 years. She enjoyed gardening, camping, square dancing and playing cards with friends. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she was active with the Daughters of Isabella, Altar and Rosary Society and the church serving committee. Cecelia was also a member of the Willmar Senior Citizens Center and volunteered at Rice Memorial Hospital.

After struggling with Alzheimer's Disease, she moved to Mankato in 2003 and most recently resided at Sunrise Cottage in Mankato, where she received loving care.

She is survived by her two daughters: Mary (and Lynn) Olson and Ann (and Gary) Benson, both of Mankato, MN; and her two sons: James Otte of St. Cloud, MN and Richard (and Deborah) Otte of Spicer, MN. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law: Addie Otte of Stillwater, MN; and one brother-in-law: Joseph Swetland of Wyoming, MN.