Lloyd S. Otterson, 85, of rural Austin passed away Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.

Lloyd Sandford was born March 8, 1932, near Geneva, in Bath Township, Freeborn County. He attended Freeborn County country school. At age 15 Lloyd went to live and farm with Kermit (Gladys) Kvenvold until joining the service. 

He entered military service in the United States Army on Jan. 16, 1951, during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge Dec. 16, 1952, he returned home. He was united in marriage to Charlene Lester on Oct. 4, 1957, at Geneva Lutheran Church. Lloyd and Charlene lived in Freeborn before moving to Austin in 1963. In October 1968 they moved to the farm they purchased north of Austin.

In his early years Lloyd worked as a butter maker in Clarks Grove and Otisco. He later worked as a mechanical tradesman for various businesses before starting his own mechanical business. In 1970 Lloyd began a long career with Farmstead Foods, formerly Wilson & Co., in Albert Lea, and retired in 1989 after 18 years of service. 

His true passion was farming — he loved working in the fields, raising cattle and baling hay. He was a member of Albert Lea American Legion Post No. 56 and Albert Lea Disabled American Veterans Glaydon Iverson Chapter No. 16. Lloyd was always eager to help family and friends whenever needed, and enjoyed tractors, the outdoors and tinkering.

Lloyd is survived by his wife, Charlene, of rural Austin; children Sharon (Gary) Fisher of Owatonna, Dean (Jolene) Otterson of Hartland, Renae (Ron Thomas) Brackey of Albert Lea, LeAnn (Ralph) Miller of Owatonna, Linda (Mark) Crom of Albert Lea and Lori (Matt) Jordison of Blooming Prairie; grandchildren Cathleen Miller (Aaron), Nathaniel Fisher, Katie Jo Elmer (Chad), Elizabeth Fisher (Robert), Matthew Miller (Katie), Nicholas Otterson, Andrea Crom, Christy Crom, Caitie, Colby, Cydney and Corbin Pathammavong, and Colin Jordison and Abby Jordison; great-grandchildren Aubrey, Bryce, Hailey and Abraham; brothers Clifford (Margaret) Otterson, Dovain (Darlene) Otterson and Odean (Margie) Otterson; and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and other relatives and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Omar and Sophia Otterson; father-in-law and mother-in-law Lloyd and Annie Lester; siblings Eugene Otterson, Raymond (Berneice) Otterson, Theresa (Maryls) Sorenson and Rolf Otterson; sisters-in-law Lana Otterson and Marie Guerrero; great-grandson, Corey Fisher; and son-in-law, Randy Brackey.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie. The Rev. Heidi Heimgartner will officiate. Interment will follow in Blooming Prairie Cemetery with military honors by the Blooming Prairie honor guard. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service Thursday afternoon at the church.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.