Memorial services for Melvin R. “Buck” Otto, age  90, of Watertown, SD, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2010, at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Watertown.  Rev. Steven Bailey will officiate.  Music will be provided by Bruce Reinhardt as pianist and Jordan Stewart as soloist.  Buck passed away on Sunday, July 11, 2010, at a care center in Watertown.

     There will be no visitation.  The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service.  Arrangements are being handled by the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown.

     Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Military graveside honors will be provided by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion and Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Watertown, and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard.  Pallbearers will be Buck’s grandchildren: Jennifer Driscoll, Patrick Driscoll, Diana Beug, Matt Rootham, Katie Otto, Marcie Greene, and Evan Otto.

     Buck was born on February 1, 1920, at Aberdeen, SD, to Alfred and Lena (Sperr) Otto.  He lived on a farm near Ortley, SD, and attended Blooming Valley School District #4 for four years.  The family moved near Summit, SD, where he attended school for the next four years and eventually moved to Watertown, in 1934, graduating from high school in 1938.  Buck worked for Swift Packing Plant for three years.  In February 1941, as a member of the 34^th Div. Signal Co. of the SD Army National Guard, he was inducted into active service and was stationed at Camp Claiborne.

     On December 20, 1941, Buck married Dorothy Leddy at the Congregational Church in Milbank, SD.  One week after their marriage, he returned to his unit and was deployed to Northern Ireland.  Following a year in Ireland, he served with distinction in North Africa and in Italy until the end of World War II.  Buck was a member of Battery B 2^nd Bn 147^th Field Artillery National Guard for 23 years.  Buck and Dorothy made their home in Watertown where they raised five children.  He retired from the National Guard in December 1969. 

     Buck worked for N.W. Bell Telephone Co. where he held various positions including: lineman, installer, repairman, central office technician and foreman, retiring as a supervisor of buildings in N.E. South Dakota in September 1982.  He worked for N.W. Bell for a total of 37 years.

     He was a member of the Congregational Church.  He was also a member and past president of Watertown Kiwanis Noon Club.  Buck was a life member of the American Legion, the V.F.W., and Telephone Pioneers.  He was named ‘Artillery Man of the Year’ in 1964 for the state of South Dakota.  He was also a member of the SD State Military Affairs Board while Dick Kneip was governor.  Buck was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and carpentry.  He was a dedicated family man and enjoyed visiting and spending time with his family especially his grandchildren.

     Buck is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy, of Watertown; five children: Sandy (Jan) Rootham of Lake Park, MN, Cathy (Doug) Driscoll of Hudson, WI, Douglas (Jennie) Otto of Fairbanks, AK, Cindy Otto (Chip Elkins) of Ely, MN, and Jeff Otto of Watertown, SD; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one brother, Merle Payne, of Golden Valley, AZ.

     He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Gene Otto.