Otto Baltrusch Jr.

Otto Baltrusch Jr.

Otto Baltrusch Jr., 82, longtime area contractor and farmer, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010.

His funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, at the Havre Assembly of God Church, with pastors Ken Ross and Steve Flatau officiating. Viewing will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside services.

Memorials in Otto's honor may be made to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, 2050 Overland Ave., Billings, MT 59108; the American Diabetes Association Montana Chapter, 3203 3rd Ave. N, Ste. 203, Billings, MT 59101; the Northern Montana Care Center Chapel Fund, c/o Ila McClenahan, P.O. Box 1231, Havre, MT 59501; or to the Assembly of God Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 296 Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Otto was born Aug. 23, 1928, in Havre, Mont. He was one of eight children born to Otto and Mary (Echelard) Baltrusch. Otto began farming at the age of 12, when he went to work for Joe Tribe. He started Baltrusch Construction with his first truck in 1948, and has been a successful businessman every since. Otto married Frances Buck in Kalispell, Mont., on Oct. 9, 1954. Together they made their home in Havre and raised their four children, Gayle, Gary, Greg and Gerald. Otto had a strong faithful foundation that guided his life, his family, his friends and his business dealings. He was a hard worker who enjoyed watching his "boys" run equipment during harvest and seeding. Otto helped with everything on the farm until his health prevented him from doing so.

Otto was a family man who loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was known as the "candy man" by all of the children, always having a little treat in his pocket for them. He enjoyed his fellow farmer friends who met for coffee and solved the world's problems around the tables at Wolfer's Diner. Harvest was a very special time of year for Otto.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Mary Baltrusch; one brother, James Baltrusch; and an infant sister, Dorothy Baltrusch.

Otto is survived by his loving wife of almost 56 years, Frances Baltrusch of Havre, Mont.; his children, Gayle (Mark) Flatau of Cle Elum, Wash., Gary (Molly) Baltrusch, and Greg (Shari) Baltrusch, all of Havre, Mont., and Gerald (Jill) Baltrusch of Eagan, Minn.; his grandchildren, Melissa (Nate) Speer and their children, Haven and Parker, all of Carlsbad, Calif., Dr. Philip (Kara) Flatau and their son, Crew, all of Destin, Fla., Nathan Baltrusch and Ashlee Simoneau of Havre, Mont., Nikki (Jarred) Giffis of Kalispell, Mont., Jenna Baltrusch and fiance Israel Benner of Chandler, Ariz., Kyle Baltrusch of Havre, Mont., and Cameron and Piper Baltrusch, both of Eagan, Minn.; his sisters, Mary Jordan of Lincoln, Calif., and Gerda (Frank) Round and Ruth (Scotty) Clark, both of Great Falls, Mont.; Erna (Bob) Edwards of Kalispell, Mont.; sister-in-law, Jeanette Baltrusch of Eugene, Ore.; his brothers, William (Betty) Baltrusch of Havre, Mont., and Carl (Shari) Baltrusch of Kalispell, Mont.; and many nieces and nephews.

Dortha May Naber

Otto Baltrusch Jr., 82, longtime area contractor and farmer, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010.

His funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, at the Havre Assembly of God Church, with pastors Ken Ross and Steve Flatau officiating. Viewing will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside services.

Memorials in Otto's honor may be made to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, 2050 Overland Ave., Billings, MT 59108; the American Diabetes Association Montana Chapter, 3203 3rd Ave. N, Ste. 203, Billings, MT 59101; the Northern Montana Care Center Chapel Fund, c/o Ila McClenahan, P.O. Box 1231, Havre, MT 59501; or to the Assembly of God Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 296 Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Otto was born Aug. 23, 1928, in Havre, Mont. He was one of eight children born to Otto and Mary (Echelard) Baltrusch. Otto began farming at the age of 12, when he went to work for Joe Tribe. He started Baltrusch Construction with his first truck in 1948, and has been a successful businessman every since. Otto married Frances Buck in Kalispell, Mont., on Oct. 9, 1954. Together they made their home in Havre and raised their four children, Gayle, Gary, Greg and Gerald. Otto had a strong faithful foundation that guided his life, his family, his friends and his business dealings. He was a hard worker who enjoyed watching his "boys" run equipment during harvest and seeding. Otto helped with everything on the farm until his health prevented him from doing so.

Otto was a family man who loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was known as the "candy man" by all of the children, always having a little treat in his pocket for them. He enjoyed his fellow farmer friends who met for coffee and solved the world's problems around the tables at Wolfer's Diner. Harvest was a very special time of year for Otto.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Mary Baltrusch; one brother, James Baltrusch; and an infant sister, Dorothy Baltrusch.

Otto is survived by his loving wife of almost 56 years, Frances Baltrusch of Havre, Mont.; his children, Gayle (Mark) Flatau of Cle Elum, Wash., Gary (Molly) Baltrusch, and Greg (Shari) Baltrusch, all of Havre, Mont., and Gerald (Jill) Baltrusch of Eagan, Minn.; his grandchildren, Melissa (Nate) Speer and their children, Haven and Parker, all of Carlsbad, Calif., Dr. Philip (Kara) Flatau and their son, Crew, all of Destin, Fla., Nathan Baltrusch and Ashlee Simoneau of Havre, Mont., Nikki (Jarred) Giffis of Kalispell, Mont., Jenna Baltrusch and fiance Israel Benner of Chandler, Ariz., Kyle Baltrusch of Havre, Mont., and Cameron and Piper Baltrusch, both of Eagan, Minn.; his sisters, Mary Jordan of Lincoln, Calif., and Gerda (Frank) Round and Ruth (Scotty) Clark, both of Great Falls, Mont.; Erna (Bob) Edwards of Kalispell, Mont.; sister-in-law, Jeanette Baltrusch of Eugene, Ore.; his brothers, William (Betty) Baltrusch of Havre, Mont., and Carl (Shari) Baltrusch of Kalispell, Mont.; and many nieces and nephews.