Robert (Bob) Norval Otsea

Robert (Bob) Norval Otsea

1/9/1938 - 7/23/25.  Bob died peacefully in his home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  He was born in St. James, Minnesota, to Norvald Henry Otsea and Agnes Elizabeth (Carlson) Otsea.  He was baptized and grew at Augustana Lutheran Church and graduated from St. James High School in 1956.   He has one adoring older sister Delores Jean Otsea Fletcher.

After high school Bob spent one year at Mankato State College.  However, he liked his summer job for Land O’Lakes better than school and continued that instead of returning to college.  Then he met the love of his life, Betty, roller skating.  She had graduated from Wabasso High School and was on her way to Mankato State.  That convinced him to get a job in Mankato; he chose Artcraft Camera Shop because he really did enjoy photography.  Bob married Betty Kay Schaffran on October 14, 1961.  They have one daughter, Robin Kay. They lived in Mankato for 35 years and were active members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where Bob served on the council.   He enjoyed driving, which led him to change careers to sales on the road with oil and grease for Hydrotex and later as regional manager for Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants. In those days his CB Handle was *Cadillac Cowboy".

Bob & Betty both enjoyed country music and as a hobby helped a friend in Nashville bring Grand Ole Opry shows to Minn, Wis, & Iowa and in the ‘60s & ‘70s led bus tours to the Opry in Nashville (29 tours at last count).  It was fun meeting many entertainers.

Bob could waltz & two-step on roller skates.  He enjoyed dancing to “old-time” music but square dancing and round dancing with friends in Mankato’s Circle 8 square dance club was the best.  Fishing and golf were fun as well as creating with stained glass.  He enjoyed road trips and was known to vacation to Texas to get the cowboy boots he loved to wear.  RV’s were his favorite way to travel and he traded them —and cars — often.  His greatest love, however, was family and he would do anything for his grandchildren.

Bob and Betty sold their Mankato home in 1995 to live in an RV looking for that “perfect” place (meaning without snow) to retire.  However, they found nothing was perfect if it was far from family.  So after a few winters as snowbirds in Arizona and Texas, he and Betty resettled in Eden Prairie in 2001 to be closer to family.

Bob enjoyed his Scandinavian heritage for the lefse, krumkake and other goodies. He was honest, kind and loyal.  Bob was involved in church life at Wooddale in Eden Prairie and knew that his eternal home would be better than whatever life on this earth brought.

Survived by his loving wife Betty, daughter Robin (Chris) Zinn, and cherished grandchildren Courtney and Kyle Zinn;  sister Delores Jean Fletcher; niece Ferris Fletcher, nephew Lance Fletcher; brother and sister in law Roger and Joyce Schaffran, and niece JoEllen Schaffran; many cousins with special mention to Shirley (Allen) Cruea; God-children Heather (Scott) Heiney, LeAnn (Jade) Anderson, and Lizzy Piepho; and many dear friends.

Visitation will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato on Thursday, August 7 from 1:00 to 2:30 followed by burial at Woodland Hills in Mankato.  Celebration of Life service will be held at Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, MN, Monday, October 13, 11:00 am.  Lunch and fellowship will follow.  Memorials requested to Wooddale Church or your favorite charity.   Service will be live streamed beginning at 10:45 am - https://www.wooddale.org/events