Date : 15 Feb 2012
Location : Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa, OK
Longtime Tulsan Margaret Otterstrom, 94, passed gently from this life Sunday surrounded by her large and loving family. She was a great woman, a devoted wife and a giving mother, who lived for her Faith and her family.
She has been a resident of Franciscan Villa in Broken Arrow, OK, for the past four years and was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Harold. She is survived by their nine children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and two of her sisters, Viola Wise and Agnes McIntosh.
Born Margaret Ann Schemmer, December 30, 1917 in her family home in Rock Valley, IA, she was the next to the youngest of a large family. She went to business school in Sioux City, IA, and accepted her first job in Austin, Minn., at George A. Hormel, a meat packing company, where she met her husband, Harold. His work took them to Shreveport, La., where they began their family and she spent the years of World War II. Five of their children were born in Louisiana before he was transferred to Tulsa in 1952. They became lifelong members of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, where they remained active and formed many friendships.
Four more children were born in those early Tulsa years and she was immersed in all of their school activities at St. Francis grade school, Marquette grade school, Monte Cassino High School and Bishop Kelley High school. She and her husband were strong believers in education and with seven of their children receiving undergraduate degrees from the University of Tulsa, the family believes it still holds the record for the most siblings from one family to do so.
She could always be counted upon to support sports activities from swimming to Little League ball, football and wrestling, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl and Boy Scouts and more. She was always a loving presence and guiding influence for each of their children and sensitive to their needs.
When faced with an empty nest, she went to work for Weight Watchers of Oklahoma, where she managed its eastern Oklahoma area for over 10 years. She also devoted many hours to the Women's Club at St. Francis Xavier and its work in the parish, and she sang in the church choir. She was a volunteer for the St. John Medical Center's auxiliary, where she particularly loved being part of a group of ladies who were called upon to rock newborn babies, and she volunteered with the St. John Hospice program. She put her sewing and quilting skills to work for others whenever called upon.
Her children and their spouses are Judy Randle (Rodger), Jim Otterstrom (Karen Sue), David Otterstrom (E. Dee Tabor), Russell Otterstrom (Kitty), Bill Otterstrom, Janice Moeller (Monty), Mark Otterstrom (Roxanne Hutton) of Kansas City, Gary Otterstrom (Meg), and Karen Freeman (Mitch). She is survived by 24 grandchildren and their spouses: Tim Randle, Laura Otterstrom (Rodney Hatfield), Joe Otterstrom (Rodica), Dereck Otterstrom (Amie), Melanie Root (Kerry), Margaret Wheeler (Chris), Megan Otterstrom, Katie Murphree (Mark), Sandy Baggott (Tradd), Michael Otterstrom (Samantha), Andrea Disney (Brandon), Michelle Dexter, Erin Moeller, Matt Otterstrom, Sarah Otterstrom, Abbie Andrus (Cody), Patti Otterstrom, Adam Otterstrom, Elliott Freeman (Leslie), Becky Rice (Philip), Zach Freeman (Mallory), Luke Freeman, Maggie Freeman and Geoffrey Freeman. Her 20 great-grandchildren are: Holly, Grace, Hunter, Dylan, Ryan, Lily, Brendan, Alyssa, Kristen, Savanna, Tara, Cole, Ethan, Kellen, Evan, Will, Aubrie, Kate, Lincoln, and Baby Girl Rice.
A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 1402 S. Boulder Ave. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2515 E. 1st St., on the corner of East 1st Street and South Atlanta Avenue. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a charity of your choice or to the Parish of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, which was central to the lives of Harold and Margaret Otterstrom.
Tulsa World - Feb 15, 2012
