Lloyd S. Otterson, 85

Lloyd S. Otterson, 85, of rural Austin, passed away Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin. 
Lloyd Sandford was born March 8, 1932 near Geneva in Bath Township, Freeborn County. He attended Freeborn County country school. At age 15, Lloyd went to live and farm with Kermit (Gladys) Kvenvold until joining the service. He entered military service in the United States Army on Jan. 16, 1951 during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge on Dec. 16, 1952, he returned home.
He was united in marriage to Charlene Lester on Oct. 4, 1957 at Geneva Lutheran Church. Lloyd and Charlene lived in Freeborn before moving to Austin in 1963. In October of 1968, they moved to the farm they purchased north of Austin. In his early years Lloyd worked as a butter maker in Clarks Grove and Otisco. He later worked as a mechanical tradesman for various businesses before starting his own mechanical business.  
In 1970, Lloyd began a long career with Farmstead Foods (formerly Wilson Foods) in Albert Lea, and retired in 1989 after 18 years of service. His true passion was farming; he loved working in the fields, raising cattle, and baling hay. He was a member of the Albert Lea American Legion Post #56 and the Albert Lea DAV Glaydon Iverson Chapter #16. Lloyd was always eager to help family and friends whenever needed, and enjoyed tractors, the outdoors, and tinkering.  
Lloyd is survived by his wife Charlene of rural Austin; children Sharon (Gary) Fisher of Owatonna, Dean (Jolene) Otterson of Hartland, Renae (Ron Thomas) Brackey of Albert Lea, LeAnn (Ralph) Miller of Owatonna, Linda (Mark ) Crom of Albert Lea, Lori (Matt) Jordison of Blooming Prairie; grandchildren Cathleen Miller (Aaron), Nathaniel Fisher, Katie Jo Elmer (Chad), Elizabeth Fisher (Robert), Matthew Miller (Katie), Nicholas Otterson, Andrea Crom, Christy Crom, Caitie, Colby, Cydney and Corbin Pathammavong, Colin Jordison, Abby Jordison; great-grandchildren Aubrey, Bryce, Hailey, and Abraham; brothers Clifford (Margaret) Otterson, Dovain (Darlene) Otterson, Odean (Margie) Otterson; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and other relatives and friends.  
He was preceded in death by his parents Omar and Sophia Otterson; father-in-law and mother-in-law Lloyd and Annie Lester; siblings Eugene Otterson, Raymond (Berneice) Otterson, Theresa (Maryls) Sorenson, Rolf Otterson; sisters-in-law Lana Otterson, Marie Guerrero; great grandson Corey Fisher; son-in-law Randy Brackey.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie with Pastor Heidi Heimgartner officiating. Interment followed in the Blooming Prairie Cemetery with military honors by the Blooming Prairie Honor Guard.
Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.