Michael Orvin Otterness was born June 18, 1949, in Caledonia, Minn., to Orvin and Evonne (Treangen) Otterness.
He graduated from the Mabel-Canton High School in 1967 and then moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where he joined the United States Marine Corps on August 30, 1967. Mike was stationed in Vietnam for 13 months, Japan for 18 months, and the remaining time in California until his discharge on September 3, 1971. He then moved back to Minnesota, where he attended the Winona Vocational School for welding. In 1973, he married Darlene Halvorson. They moved to Texas and were later divorced in 1995. In 1999, he moved back to Minnesota, where he worked at McNeilus in Dodge Center until retiring in 2011. In 2016 he moved to Spring Valley, where he was a resident at Spring Valley Living. He enjoyed driving his Miata and Mustang and spending time with his family. Mike was a member of the American Legion Post 299 in Mabel since 1972.
Mike died Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Spring Valley Living at the age of 72.
Mike is survived by his daughter Jennifer (Donald) Hooker, granddaughter Lexie, sisters Susan (Larry) Erickson, Diane Otterness (Bob Abraham), and Joy (Steve) Afdahl; and one brother, Lonnie (Stephanie) Morken; and many nieces and great-nieces.
He was preceded in death by his father Orvin Otterness, mother Evonne Morken, and brother Randy Otterness.
A celebration of life was held 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., on Wednesday, March 9 at the Mabel American Legion in Mabel, Minn. Inurnment was held 1 p.m., Thursday, March 10 at the Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery in Preston.