Lillian Margaret Otto Obituary (1922 - 2014)

Lillian Margaret Otto, 92, joined her Heavenly Father on Monday, March 31, 2014, after a brief illness. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 4, 2014, at DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan, with Rev. Dale Nabben, officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until time of service at DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan. Burial will be in North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Lillian was born on January 13, 1922, at the family home south of Judson, North Dakota, to Carl Jr. and Katherine (Nelson) Ritz. She was raised and educated in rural Morton County. Lillian worked a variety of jobs from Seattle as an office clerk to Chicago and New York City as a nanny. On May 23, 1960, Lillian married James Otto in Jamestown, North Dakota. During those 53 years of marriage, she worked as a dental assistant, nurse's aid, waitress, and a prep cook/baker. At the age of 60, she attended classes at the Lake Region Junior College, Devils Lake, North Dakota, to get her GED. She enjoyed making quilts and Barbie doll clothes, cooking, baking, and fishing, but her all-time favorite were the trips to the casino. She was a member of the Lakewood Birthday Club, VFW and Rebecca's Club (Odd Fellows) in Devils Lake. She is survived by her two daughters, Valeree King (Mark Winn), Washburn, ND; Donna (Joe) Liva, Pahrump, NV; two sons, James (Opal) King, Orange Park, FL, and Andrew (Paula) Otto, Brighton, CO; one sister, Pansy Hargiss, Mandan, ND; four brothers, Herbert (Lucy) Ritz, Bismarck, ND; Wallace (Patty) Ritz, St. Louis, MO; James (Margaret) Ritz, Grand Junction, CO; and Edgar (LaVonne) Ritz, Billings, MT; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Lillian was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Marilyn (Nagel) Zahn; two sisters, Alice Ritz and Violet Clemens; eight brothers, Claude, Ralph, Carl, Frances, Harvey, Henry, Albert, and George; and two great-grandsons. Lillian's family want to say "Thank You" to the staff and many friends whom she loved dearly at Edgewood Village on Colorado; to the new friends and staff at Sanford on Sunset; to Dr. Diane Kraft and Dr. Andrew Horowitz for their care and compassion; and to the many other doctors, nurses and CNA's who cared for her these past few weeks-God Bless each and every one of you!