Central High

Bruce Otto

Bruce Leighton Otto was born November 17, 1939 in Minneapolis, MN, and died November 14, 2011 in Park Rapids, MN, three days short of his 72nd birthday. Bruce passed away with Kirky, his loving wife of 49 years, and their beloved daughter, Melissa at his side. He battled myxoid liposarcoma, a rare cancer, for over two years.

Bruce was one of four children born to Lyle C. and Edna V. (Gumboldt) Otto. The Otto family owned a resort on Mille Lacs Lake for several years, and Bruce was proud to help with the fishing launch, with filleting fish for the guests, and of being allowed to take the bus back to Minneapolis each year so that he could attend summer camp in the BWCA. He bought his first car at age 12, a Model T Ford which he rebuilt. It was the first of many such projects. He graduated from Central High School in Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota. Bruce enlisted in the Army Reserve, serving for eight years with great pride. Bruce married Kirky Munson on August 25, 1962, after completing his basic training. To this union two children were born, Eric and Melissa. Bruce worked for John Deere in Minneapolis and Bloomington for 10 years, and then continued his career with International Harvester in Minneapolis, and later with Uglem-Ness Case-IH in Northwood, North Dakota, where he was an office manager for 17 years. Bruce and Kirky moved to Park Rapids in 1991, and he began building custom lake homes. Bruce was a licensed building contractor, building inspector and septic designer/inspector, and worked for Hubbard County Environmental Services for a number of years.

He is survived by wife, Kirky of Park Rapids; daughter, Melissa of Minneapolis; sister, Barbara (Keith) Knutson of Pequot Lakes and Bloomington; brother, William (Mary Rae) Otto of Palm Harbor, FL; cousin, Jim (Dana) Reed formerly of Park Rapids presently of Davenport, FL; many other cousins, in-laws, nieces, nephews, 11 treasured great nieces and nephews, and many good friends. He was proud to know so many in the building trade industry in Park Rapids and to count them as friends.

Bruce was preceded in death by his son, Eric Bruce Otto in 1990; his parents, Lyle and Edna and toddler brother, Ronald. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids from 1 to 3 P.M. Interment will be in the Otto Family lot at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis early next summer. Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, St. Joseph’s Hospice or the donor’s favorite charity.

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