Don "Otto" Krause

Don “Otto” Krause, 64, of Aberdeen, passed away Sunday, May 31, 2020, at his home.

His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 6, 2020, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mansfield, SD, with Pastor Bret Bierman and Lay Minister David Peterson leading the service.

Burial follows at the church cemetery.

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

Closed casket visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Family and friends may sign Otto’s online guestbook on the Schriver’s Memorial website.  

**Due to CDC guidelines and limited seating at Trinity Lutheran, Otto's many friends are encouraged to view his service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.**

Don Otto Krause was born December 4, 1955, in Aberdeen, SD to Otto and Lena (Bierman) Krause.  He attended school in Warner, SD and graduated from Warner High School with the Class of 1974.  Don furthered his education at Northern State College in Aberdeen, where he played football for The Wolves.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from Northern in 1978.

Following college graduation, Don bartended part-time and began farming with his brother and brother-in-law with Krause-Allbee Farms.  He remained with them until 1994, when his career path led him to the sales field, where he began selling insurance and then safety and first-aid equipment.  Don also worked at Quality Quick Print and Lutheran Social Services before returning to farm life in 2015.  He was currently working with the Krause Cattle Operation at the time of his passing.

Don was united in marriage to Lori (Stokke) Krause on December 17, 1994, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mansfield.  Their union was blessed with one son, Shea.  The addition of his stepson, Derek, along with his wife, Natasha and their son, Marcus, completed their family.  Don loved his family greatly and was very supportive of their educational pursuits and activities.  Shea will especially be missing his dad, as they were partners in sports and annual West River deer and turkey hunts.  “Poppa Cow Farmer” (as his grandson, Marcus, tagged him) encouraged Marcus to golf and practice hitting a baseball off the tee.  Poppa was very impressed that his grandson could name all the animals hanging on the walls of “Grandpa’s Man Cave”.

Don was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, where in addition to serving on the church council, he was also a Confirmation Leader and mentor.  He was a previous member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mansfield.  Don was also a member of the Northern State Wolves Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and was a Camp Counselor at the Farmer’s Union Camp.

In addition to putting his heart and soul into his duties at the farm, Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing racquetball.  He also enjoyed following NSU Sports, watching professional sports and John Wayne Westerns on television.  Don was also a man who loved his ice-cream by the bucket! 

Many hopes and dreams where left hanging when Don’s adventurous life was cut short at the age of 64.  Fishing and hunting trips, travel plans, plans to winter in Arizona, and golf rounds to sharpen his game were put off until retirement and left unfulfilled.  We are all especially saddened that he was called to be with his Savior before he could fulfill his dream trophy hunt in Mexico.  Don was a kind and compassionate man, someone who was always willing to help others.  He truly never met a stranger.  Throughout his life, Don felt he had been blessed with wonderful family, friends, and co-workers.  He will always be remembered as “Our Big Guy with a Big Heart”. 

Grateful for sharing in Don’s life is his wife of 25 years, Lori Krause of Aberdeen; his son, Shea Krause of Madison, WI; stepson, Derek (Natasha) Brewer of Aberdeen; his grandson, Marcus Brewer of Aberdeen; siblings:  Larry (Letitia) Krause of Mansfield, Joan Allbee of Hartford, SD and Kari (Reid) Nolte of Castlewood, SD; his canine traveling companion, “Trapper”; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Lena Krause; sister-in-law, Gwen Krause; and brother-in-law, Alfred Allbee.       

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