Debra Kae Otten, the daughter of Melvin and Opal (Haufschild) Austad, was born August 5, 1955, in Madison, South Dakota and died July 26, 2023 at her home under hospice care, surrounded by her family at the age of 67 years, 11 months, 21 days. Debra was raised in the rural Oldham, South Dakota area. She was baptized and confirmed at the Oldham Lutheran Church in Oldham, Debra attended the Oldham Community Schools and graduated from the Oldham High School with the Class of 1973. Debra then attended the nursing program in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and attained her LPN license in 1975. Later Deb attended DMACC in Carroll, Iowa and received her Associate Degree in Nursing and became an RN in 1993.
In the spring of 1976, she became engaged to Darold Ray Otten and later married on November 20, 1976, at the Oldham Lutheran Church in Oldham, South Dakota. They were blessed with three sons: Jason, Joseph, and Jacob. Darold was employed in the law enforcement profession, and they moved several times over the years as Darold assumed different roles in management positions in his career. Debra was employed at the healthcare facilities where ever they moved. Having served several departments as Chief of Police, he accepted the position with the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office as Chief Deputy. Upon leaving the law enforcement profession, Darold worked at Pella Corporation in Carroll, Iowa and they stayed in the Audubon area. Debra was employed as a nurse at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon and has been a nurse at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn for the past 11 years.
Debra was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. As her children were growing up, Debra became active with the Cub Scouts and was even Scoutmaster for the group for several years. Debra liked to bake and was known for her apple pies. Debra and Darold liked to travel, and her bucket list included seeing all 50 states. As of the time of her passing, she and Darold had visited all of the fifty states except for Alaska. They were planning on going there on her retirement. She was still working at Salem Lutheran Home when her sudden illness struck her. Debra loved the being near her sons and her grandchildren and loved the frequent visits by both.
Preceding, her in death were her parents Melvin and Opal Austad; and her sister in-law: Joan Austad.
Survivors include her husband Darold (Doc) Otten, their sons: Jason Otten, Joseph and his wife Valerie Otten and their four children Kobie, Kayden, Brody and Brielyn all of Audubon, Iowa and Jacob Otten of Manning, Iowa. Her brothers Dean and wife Cheryl Austad of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Gene Austad of Madison, South Dakota; her sister Darla and husband Jon Folsland of Mesa Arizona; DeAnn Helms and husband Dan of Bloomer, Wisconsin; Her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Dave and wife Teresa Otten, Darwin Otten, and Valerie and husband Dennis Lape all of Valley Springs, South Dakota; numerous nieces, nephews, countless cousins and other relatives and friends.
The family will greet friends Wednesday afternoon, August 2, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral Services will be conducted by Pastor Dan Beattie on Wednesday afternoon, August 2, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery. The casket bearers will be her three sons and grandsons: Jason Otten, Joseph Otten, Jacob Otten, Kobie Otten, Kayden Otten and Brody Otten.
The Kessler Funeral Home is in charge of the professional arrangements.
