Elizabeth Jean “Betty” Otte died Friday (Dec. 6, 2013) in Sunset Home. Betty was born July 29, 1925, in Phillipsburg, Mont., a daughter of Earl Royal and Cecilia Rose Dailing Fisk. She married the love of her life, Charles “Charlie” Otte, on June 16, 1945. He died Nov. 18, 2011. They were married 66 years.
Betty was a graduate of Notre Dame High School and a member of St. Francis Catholic Church. She was a Girl Scout troop leader and past PTA president at St. Peter Grade School. While raising her children, she worked diligently on various committees to support Catholic education. Betty was a member of the Ladies of St. Francis and particularly enjoyed serving funeral meals and cleaning the church. Betty was a devout Catholic who regularly attended weekday Mass. Her faith was a very important part of her life.
Throughout her life, Betty was a very hard worker, holding various accounting jobs while raising their family of four children. Betty enjoyed working with numbers and documentation. She had a true attention for detail. She retired as a bookkeeper from Refreshment Services Pepsi in 1988. For 20 years, Betty and Charlie enjoyed a wonderful retirement together. They shared many common interests and traveled extensively throughout the United States. They developed a particular interest in postcard collecting and Civil War artifacts and visited most major Civil War sites. During their travels, they enjoyed enriching their extensive collections. Betty’s greatest love was her husband, Charlie, and being a mother and grandmother. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, enjoyed attending their activities and particularly found pleasure in playing various board games with them, especially Yahtzee. She so enjoyed the role of “Gramma.” After the death of her granddaughter, Samantha, Betty worked tirelessly to support The Sammy Fund, which helps provide life-enriching opportunities to underserved children. Betty was completely devoted to her husband, Charlie, providing wonderful, loving care to him throughout his life. She was a kind, considerate, thoughtful person, a role model to all who knew her and always available to support her family and friends. Betty was a cheerful, warm and outgoing lady who lived her life with integrity. For the last four years, Betty has been a resident of Sunset Home where she became very close with many of the staff members and appreciated their excellent care. Though dementia robbed Betty of many wonderful traits, she never lost her gentle, sweet personality.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Jean Seward (Rudy) of Denton, Texas, and Mary Jo Duesterhaus (Stanley) of Rochester; her son, Charles “Chuck” Otte Jr. (June) of Quincy; her daughter-in-law, Patricia Otte of Quincy; nine grandchildren, Rudy Allyn Seward (Vicki) of Lewisville, Texas, Erik Seward (Caroline) of Denton, Texas, Stacia Duesterhaus Plothow (Matt) of Chicago, Erin Duesterhaus Wilken (Ross) of Chicago, Brett Duesterhaus (Sandi) of Rolling Meadows, Christopher Otte of Jilin, China, Kyle Otte (Melina) of Chicago, Kelly Otte Diaz (Ruben) of Quincy and Kelsey Otte of Quincy; and eight great-grandchildren, Colin, Madeline, Flynn and Charlotte Seward, Avery and Morgan Plothow, Grayson Wilken and Nolan Duesterhaus. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie; a son, Daniel William Otte; and a granddaughter, Samantha June Otte.
SERVICES: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Duker and Haugh Funeral Home and at noon in St. Francis Catholic Church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. VISITATION: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. MEMORIALS: The Sammy Fund or Sunset Home. ARRANGEMENTS: Duker and Haugh Funeral Home.