Otto Dean Larsen, 69

Otto Dean Larsen, 69, of Columbia Falls, passed away Monday, July 28, 2008, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

He was born the youngest of four children May 17, 1939, in Green River, Wyo., to Jack Otto and Florence Louise (Powers) Larsen.

Otto's mother died when he was 4, and his father died when he was 13, and he was raised by his stepmother, Ione (Cain) Larsen.

He graduated from Green River High School in 1957; he then entered the U.S. Army and served as a chemist from 1958 to 1961 with the Army Chemical Corps in Germany.

After his time in the Army, he attended Rocky Mountain College, where he met his future wife, Rayna Marie Ball; they were married March 16, 1964, in Huntley. To this union were born two sons, Gerald Keith in 1965, and Matthew Dean in 1966.

From 1968 to 1970, he attended the University of Montana and received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry.

In 1970, Otto moved his family to the suburbs of Detroit, to pursue his graduate education. Upon receiving his master's degree in analytical chemistry at Wayne State University in Detroit, Otto was offered a position as an environmental research scientist working in Stationary Air Emissions Control with Chrysler Motor Company, where he worked until his retirement on New Year's Eve in 1999.

He was very involved with his family in the United Methodist Church. He helped run his sons' hockey league, and later in Boy Scouts as their Scout master for 10 years, also running the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby for the Detroit Area Council for years, even after his sons were out on their own.

After his retirement, Otto and his wife moved back to Montana, as he only called himself a temporary resident (30 years) of Michigan. They settled in Columbia Falls, and they enjoyed a well-earned retirement, traveling around the world.

Otto was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother; his brother, Gerald; sister, Mary Alice Johnston; and stepbrothers, Bennett and Day Evans, and stepsister, Myrtle Edwards.

Otto is survived by his wife, Rayna, of Columbia Falls; son, Gerald, and wife, Sharon, of Ferndale, Mich.; son, Matthew, and wife, Tamara, of Columbia Falls; four grandchildren, AT3 Robert Larsen, U.S. Navy of Virginia Beach, Va., Joshua and Amber Larsen of Ferndale, Mich., and Samantha Larsen of Columbia Falls; his sister, Edith Woodring, of Grand Junction, Colo.; stepbrother, Myrle, and Loretta Evans, of Green River; as well and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at the Columbia Falls United Methodist Church, with the Rev. David Merkel officiating. Burial will be afterward at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls, with military graveside honors by the United Veterans of the Flathead and the Montana National Guard.

Memorial donations may be made in Otto's name to Columbia Falls United Methodist Church, Hospice, Montana Veterans Home or Boy Scouts of America.