Wilma Otto

Wilma Otto, age 87, widow of W. Gordon, of Aurora, died Wednesday, May 15, 2002, at Bryan/LGH Hospital in Lincoln.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, May 18th at the Aurora United Methodist Church. Dr. Joe Scahill will officiate. Interment will be in the Phillips Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 P.M. Friday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: WILMA OTTO

Wilma Mildred Otto, the daughter of Casper and Pearl (Martin) Arnold, was born at Giltner, Nebraska on January 13, 1915 and died in Lincoln, Nebraska on May 15, 2002, at the age of 87 years.

She grew up near Giltner and attended Happy Hollow Country School. The family moved to a farm near St. Joe and graduated from Phillips High School in 1932.

Wilma was united in marriage to W. Gordon Otto on March 13, 1933 at Belville, Kansas. All their wedded life was spent in the Phillips Community. They were owner/operators of Otto's Service at Phillips. Wilma even drove a truck for Gordon when they owned W. G. Trucking. Gordon passed away on December 22, 1980. Wilma moved to Aurora in 1996.

Wilma was a member of the Aurora United Methodist Church, the Royal Neighbors of America, Aurora Garden Club and the T.P.M Club. She was active with the Phillips Senior Citizens. Wilma felt it was an honor and a privilege to serve 25 years on the Christian Education Committee at the Phillips United Methodist Church. She also served on the election board. Both she and Mr. Otto enjoyed the title of being commissioned Admirals in the Nebraska Navy issued by former Governor J.J. Exon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, her son Richard L. Otto Sr., daughter-in-law Carlene Otto; two brothers and one sister; and one granddaughter, Ralynda.

Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Arnold Otto of Aurora; 3 grandchildren and their families, Richard Otto Jr. and his wife Sherry and their children, Stephanie, Shannon and Derek all of Grand Island; Jay Otto and his wife Michelle and their children, Jeremy, Anthony and Brandon of Phillips and John Otto and his wife Lorinda and their son John of Boise, Idaho; a brother and two sisters; and a daughter-in-law, Darlene Otto of Hastings.