Otto M. Frauen was born on June 8, 1923 as the third child of Jacob and Bertrice Fern Rector Frauen on the ranch he called home for 98 years, 10 miles north west of Norden, NE in Keya Paha County. Otto passed away on November 23, 2021 at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth, NE.
Otto married Ruth Loraine Foster on October 12, 1949, at the Methodist Church in Valentine, NE. They were married on a Wednesday and went to Colorado elk hunting for their honeymoon. Otto continued hunting elk every fall with his cousin Bob and many friends from Colorado and back home. He shot two, big 6-point elk over these years.
Otto and Ruth raised four children, Monte Allen who still lives on the Frauen Ranch, Audrey Sue Buysse who moved to Minnesota after college graduation, Sally Ruth Conner of Valentine and Patty Lynn Barstow of Springview. As a family of six, the children all helped on the ranch. They learned the value of hard work, but also how to make time to enjoy what they liked to do.
Otto always loved living on the ranch and riding horses. His first horses were Bally and Bill. He even tried his hand at rodeo competition in the cow riding at White River, SD and Valentine, NE.
Otto raised coyote hounds and spent lots of weekends hunting with them and friends. Otto valued a good gun and he was a sharp shooter. He enjoyed hunting grouse, duck, turkey, pheasant, and geese to mention a few. He deeply loved fishing in many states, anytime he could go. His favorite fishing lake was Yellowstone. He preferred trout fishing and eating them as well! Seldom did he go on a road trip or vacation without pulling a boat.
As a young boy at age 9, he skinned his first skunk and sold the hide for 33 cents. By the time he was 11, he had a trapping line and continued in the fur business until the 1990s. Otto was a member of the Nebraska Fur Harvesters and lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.
Otto enjoyed raising alfalfa, corn, wheat, rye and oats. He put in irrigation and raised even more crops. The crops were used to feed the cattle and hogs raised over the years. As a commercial cattleman, he sold Hereford and Angus cattle and hogs in Sioux City, wearing out three stock trucks. He also sold livestock in Ainsworth, Bassett, Winner and Valentine.
Otto is survived by his son, Monte (Cathy) and daughter, Sally (Keith) Conner both of Valentine; son-in-law, Neri Barstow of Springview; Monte’s daughter, Robyn (Joe) Carey of Curtis, NE; Melissa Stephens and children, Audrey’s sons, Josh (Brecken) Buysse of Las Vegas, NV and Joel (Carrie) Buysse of Enumclaw, WA; Sally’s sons, Alan (Kelli) of Davenport, FL and Quin (fiancé Allie) Conner of North Platte, NE; Patty’s sons, Wyatt (Amanda) of Bluff Dale, TX and Austin (Sierra) Barstow of Stephenville, TX; great-grandchildren, Pake, Parker and Pryce Johnston, Ty and Shawn Carey, Otto (his name sake) and Rhett Buysse, Wylie and Presley Barstow and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Otto was preceded in death by parents, Jacob and Bertrice Fern Frauen; wife, Ruth Foster-Frauen; daughters, Audrey Buysse and Patty Barstow; grandchildren, Sheena Barstow and Carl Frauen; great-grandson, Luke Alan Conner; brother, Ernest and sister Hazel Frauen-Peterson.
Memorials may be sent to Valentine United Methodist Church and Keya Paha County Foundation.
