Dean William Ottenbacher

Dean William Ottenbacher, 70, of Aberdeen passed away Saturday, September 14, 2019, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 18, 2019, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Avenue SE, Aberdeen with Father Patrick Grode, Celebrant and Father Mark Axtmann, con-celebrating.

Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Ave NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service and rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Wednesday.

Family and friends may sign Dean’s online guestbook and also view his service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Dean William Ottenbacher was born May 13, 1949, in Eureka, SD to William and Bernice (Aman) Ottenbacher.  He and his family moved from the farm in Eureka to Aberdeen at the age of eight, when his parents bought a grocery store on Main Street.  Two years later, the family moved to Ordway, SD, while his dad managed the water plant. After finishing at the Ordway Country School, Dean attended Central High School, where he graduated in 1967.  After graduation, he moved to Minneapolis, MN, but still returned to Aberdeen often.  

Dean met Jeanne Noltner in 1968 on a blind date set up by her best friend.  She attended school at Stewarts School of Cosmetology in Aberdeen while Dean traveled back and forth, still working in Minneapolis.  In 1970, he obtained work in Aberdeen and moved here permanently.  Dean and Jeanne were married on September 12, 1970, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Shortly after the wedding, their family began to grow, and they raised three children together.  For forty years, Dean was a very successful out of town salesman for CarQuest, even winning multiple cruises for his work.  Dean and Jeanne were blessed with 49 years of marriage before he passed away.  

Dean gained a love for bowling from his dad.  Throughout his years in a bowling league, he coached junior bowling, bowled four perfect games, and was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame.  Another hobby Dean enjoyed was fishing, often enjoying a day out on the water with Jeanne, his son Trevor, or his friends.  Other than catching fish, he enjoyed the scenery and peace he found on the water.  He also found peace in his backyard where he would feed the blue jays peanuts each evening and help his wife take care of their beautiful backyard and large garden. In his spare time, he loved riding his motorcycle, especially his Harley.  Dean and Jeanne would ride around town on the bike and even take the bike to Sioux Falls, the Black Hills, and Duluth, MN.  However, his true love was spending time with his family.  He had the privilege of helping to teach some of his older grandchildren to drive, and also enjoyed playing with cars, action figures, and barbies with his younger grandchildren.   Dean was often seen grilling out on the patio with his wife, his kids, and their families.  

Forever grateful for sharing Dean’s life are his wife, Jeanne Ottenbacher; his kids: Christine (Ethan) Palluck, Tamera (Darin) Kucker and Trevor (Kristen) Ottenbacher; nine grandchildren:  Josh Palluck, Joey Palluck, Jocelyn Palluck, Chase Kucker, Payton Kucker, Braden Kucker, Kara Kucker, Mary Josephine Kucker and Xionen Bain; two great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Simon Wilson; and his sister, Patricia (Eric) Lake.  Dean will be deeply missed by all.

 Dean was preceded in death by his parents, William and Bernice.              

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