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Marcia L. Otto, 84, of Storm Lake, passed away Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake.
Memorial services will take place Friday, March 15, at 11 a.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Marcia was born in Ames, on Aug. 18, 1939, to Marvin and Verlie (Mills) Alm, the first child, and the couple’s only daughter. She would be joined later by two brothers, Randall and Norman.
In the early years of WWII, Marcia’s family lived in Pasadena, Calif., where Marcia engaged in her first pony ride, which began a lifelong love of horses. The Alms would return to Ames, where Marcia spent her early school years, and eventually settled in Iowa Falls, where she graduated in 1957. In high school, she became an accomplished accordionist, and participated in choir and other musical activities. She often traveled to Storm Lake to visit her relatives, who ran the Cobblestone, or her special Aunt Elma and Uncle Mal Allen in Geneva, Ill.
Shortly after graduation, she and her parents resided in the Phoenix, Ariz., area briefly, but soon returned to Iowa Falls where Marcia trained in Mason City for a job with Bell Telephone. That same year, she met Thomas Kelly, an Iowa Falls native, and the two married in Garner, on Dec. 31, 1957.
Tom and Marcia moved to Storm Lake where Marcia began her life as a mom and homemaker. Marcia was blessed with five children: sons Kevin and Shannon, daughter Kitty, and sons Patrick and Michael. Over the years, she lived in a number of places: Omaha, Newcastle, Wyo. (where she owned her first horse, Lady, and met lifelong “sister” Kay), Ames, Storm Lake, Lakeside, a farm near Newell (more horses!), a ranch near Saratoga, Wyo. (ranch life and cattle drives), and then to Albert City. Tom and Marcia would eventually divorce, but in 1975 she was able to purchase a home in Storm Lake, took clerical classes at old Hayes school, and secured a position in June of 1977, as secretary in the guidance office at Storm Lake High School, where she worked until her retirement in June 2002.
Marcia married Dale Otto on Oct. 21, 1978, and the two would enjoy many years with family and friends in their home on the lake on Vista Drive. Marcia had always been a prodigious letter writer, and for nearly all her life, corresponded with family and friends regularly. She was an excellent cook and baker, liked gardening (and canning), walking by the lake, reading, watching westerns, action movies and all things horses. She was a great admirer of Native American culture and the American West. Marcia was a fan of Iowa State football, and a huge fan of her beloved Green Bay Packers. She and Dale were long time members of Grace Lutheran in Storm Lake, and she remained steadfast in her faith until her passing. Throughout her years, and for all of her activities, she took her greatest satisfaction, and joy, in raising her kids and caring for her family.
Dale passed on Sept. 21, 2009, and Marcia continued to live in her home, although in recent years, she found it increasingly difficult to care for herself. She especially enjoyed Sundays, watching Packers games, having a good meal (prepared for her, now), an episode of Longmire or Heartland (horses again!), and a bowl of ice cream. For Marcia, sharing those things with family was always the best.
Marcia was preceded in death by her parents, Marv and Verlie Alm; brothers, Randy and Norm Alm; grandparents: Arvid and Edna Alm and Howard and Nora Mills; aunt and uncle, Elma (Alm) and Malcom Allen; aunt Wilda (Mills) Bell and uncle Orville “Shorty” Lawrence; uncle James and aunt Rita (Peschong) Mills; first cousin David Mills; and granddaughter (Kitty’s daughter) Arizona Kelly.
Those cherishing her memory include son Kevin Kelly of Storm Lake; son Shannon Kelly (Michele) of Storm Lake; daughter Kitty Kelly Gronenthal (Randy) of Platte Center, Neb.; son Patrick Kelly of New Orleans, La.; and son Michael Kelly (Diane) of Sioux City. She is survived by her 16 grandchildren: Dallas Kelly and Darby Kelly (Kevin’s); Christopher Kelly (Jessi) and Nicholas Kelly (Annemarie) (Shannon’s); Cody Kelly (Amanda), Courtney Radke (Courtney), Megan Radke Marty (Tyler), Montana Radke, Hunter, Matthew, John, Randal, and Lawson Gronenthal (Kitty’s); Shaun Kelly (Stephanie) (Pat’s); Cole Kelly and Morgan Kelly (Mike’s). Marcia is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren: Sadie and Delaney Kelly (Dallas); Katelyn Kelly (Chris); Chloe Kelly (Cody); Bronson and Cooper Radke (Courtney); Hailey, Lathyn, Ashlyn and Brynlee Marty (Megan); Owen (Shaun). In addition, she is survived by an uncle, Gib Bell; nieces and nephews: Lars, Angie, Randy Jr. and Sam (Randy); Dylan, Nora and Danny (Norm); Lawrence first cousins: Lara Lee, Kay and Kim; Mills first cousins: Sarah and Todd; and many other relatives and friends who will miss her dearly.
