Larry Allen Otter

LARRY ALLEN OTTER was born on January 12, 1945 to John and Marjorie (Smits) Otter on a farm by Orange City, Iowa. He grew up on several farms in Southwest Minnesota and attended school in Verdi, Minnesota. At the age of 14, he lost his arm in a farm accident. He continued his education at vocational school in Kansas City, Missouri, graduating in 1965 with an auto mechanics degree. Following his education, he returned to Minnesota and managed the co-op in Ruthton, Minnesota. Larry was united in marriage to Eileen Lens on August 28, 1971 in Larchwood, Iowa. After their marriage the couple lived in Ruthton. From there Larry purchased a fuel station/mechanic shop in Marshall, Minnesota. He then sold his station in Marshall and opened a shop in Ruthton. He sold the Ruthton shop to his brother, and then opened a shop in Woodstock, Minnesota. After closing the shop in Woodstock, he began working at Midland Tire in Pipestone, Minnesota in 1994 and moved to Pipestone in 1996. Larry continued to work at Midland Tire until his retirement in 2009. After his retirement, he drove van for special needs children through the Ludolph Bus Service until his illness forced him to quit. Larry passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family on Monday, August 27, 2018 at the age of 73 years, seven months and 15 days.

He loved to drag race cars, holding many records for many years. In the racing scene, he was known as the one-armed bandit. Larry was a volunteer fireman for the city of Ruthton for 25 years. He loved classic cars and attending car shows. In 2000, he started the Pipestone car show and ran it with his family until 2010. He enjoyed going for coffee at Luann’s Gas and More. He was able to do things with one arm that some people can’t do with two. He always said one arm is not a handicap. Larry would and did come to the aid of anyone who needed him. Even though Larry had a great love of cars, he loved his family and friends more than anything. His siblings meant the world to him and they were always there to support one another.

Larry is lovingly remembered by his wife, Eileen Otter of Pipestone, Minnesota; two children, Jim and his wife Jenny Otter of Pipestone and Krista Otter of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; five grandchildren, Dylan Arndt, Allissa Arndt, Braden Otter, Keegan Otter and Amelia Otter; one great-grandson, Levi Arndt; six siblings, Barry and his wife Brenda Otter of Tyler, Minnesota, Dora and her husband Don Lupkes of Woodstock, Minnesota, Mary Kleinjan and her significant other Tom Spartz of Wilmont, Minnesota, Mark Otter of Pipestone, Phil and his wife, Shelly of St. Paul, Minnesota and Linda and her husband Rick Fiedler of Pipestone; in-laws, Maryann and Darwin Schaff, Roger Lens, and Richard and Marsha Lens. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marjorie Otter; his mother and father-in-law, George and Dolores Lens; three brothers, Marvin Otter, Arvin Otter and Norbert Jacobsma; two sisters-in-law, Sandy Otter and Joesphine Hazzard.