Ted Otte

Ted J. Otte, age 94, of Omaha, NE, formerly of York County, NE, passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, following a brief illness. Ted was born on February 8, 1917, on the family farm in Arborville Township, York County, NE, the 4th child of Theodore D. and Elizabeth (Bingham) Otte. After graduation from York High School in 1934, Ted worked on the family farm and on ranches in California.

On March 15, 1941, he married Ardell Sandall in Polk, NE, and they settled on the family farm. He farmed until 1968, then worked at Midwest Research Farms and HyMark Industries. After moving to Lincoln, NE, in 1974, he worked for ISCO Industries until his retirement in 1982. Ted and Ardell moved back to the farm in 1983 where they resided until they sold the farm in 2000. They lived in York for several years before moving to Omaha in 2008.

Ted was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Polk and was a member of the Gideon’s. He was active in Nebraska and National Farmers Union, serving several years as a district director with Nebraska Farmers Union. Ted was an avid reader, loved to work in his yard and orchard and found great pleasure tinkering in his shop. He and Ardell enjoyed visiting their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Frank and George, and a daughter-in-law, Helen. Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Ardell; a sister, Sybil Hulme of California; two daughters, Edith Gravenmier of Redding, CA and Ann Wilson of Omaha; three sons, Fred and wife Gina of Omaha, Eric and wife Nancy of Wichita, KS, and Charles “Chuck” and wife Jaye of Junction City, KS; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services were held at Metz Mortuary in York on Monday, July 25, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Brian Galloway officiating. Inurnment was at the Arborville Cemetery immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice House - The Josie Harper Residence 7415 Cedar St. Omaha, NE 68124 www.hospicehouseomaha.org.