TRUMAN — Otis began her next journey on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, after a year and a half war with cancer. A proud woman, sometimes stubborn, she fought till her final breath. She passed away at 7:08 p.m. at her house surrounded by family, just as she wanted.

Otis was up for adventures in various forms. Some of her favorite memories were born from her (mis)adventures “navigating” in the semi-truck with her loving husband, Gary. Whether she was frantically working windshield wipers in a snow and ice storm in Kansas or yelling at Atlantans, she faced everything courageously, head-on. Mark Twain wrote, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear,” and Otis understood that better than most. When she wanted something, good luck convincing her otherwise, especially when you heard her favorite catchphrase: “Hold my beer and watch this ****.” To sum up Otis: Gal Gadot is not Wonder Woman; Susan Albrecht is.

Left to cherish Otis is her husband, Gary; her parents, Merle and Elna; her five kids, Crystal, Andy, Gary Joe, Tracey (Mark), and Tammy; her six siblings Mona (Tony), Barb (Dusty), Diane (Alex), Wayne (Jan), Brad (Laura), and Kenny; and 13 grandchildren.

Robin Williams explained that “we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times.” And we will. We honor this woman each time we smile hearing her contagious laugh, chuckle remembering her chiding her husband, and laugh recalling her (slightly embellished) adventures. She was a natural storyteller. In recalling our many memories of Otis, we cherish a woman who is more than worthy of all of our love. We live to honor her and her memory.

Otis elected to be cremated. There will be a viewing from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, at Zaharia Funeral Services in Truman, Minn. There will be a funeral service 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Truman, with a small lunch, and a burial service 1:30 p.m. at Nashville Cemetery.

While the family appreciates your support, in honor of Otis, all donations will be donated to the Truman Fire Department’s Memorial Flag fund in her name.

We love you, Ma/Scooter/Otis. Fly free.

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