Thelma (Brooks) Ott

Thelma O. Ott, age 92 of Belle Plaine, died Saturday, September 25, 2021, at her home.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 1 at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine, with Fr. Michael Kaluza officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to Mass, at the church.  Interment will be in the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Belle Plaine.

Thelma was born on December 10, 1928, to Raymond and Alma (Fischer) Brooks in Welch, MN.  She met the love of her life, Joseph Ott, at a dance hall in St. Paul at the young age of 17.  They were united in marriage on New Year’s Eve in 1945 at the St. Louis Parish in St. Paul.  After moving around a bit, they found their way to Belle Plaine, where they raised their beautiful family.  Thelma was able to stay home with their five children while they were young.  As the children got older, she went to work in home health care.

Thelma liked to go bowling and had participated in bowling leagues.  She and her husband  enjoyed going out dancing together.  She was an avid reader.  She loved nature and going out fishing and birdwatching.  Religion was important part of her life.  She was a devoted Catholic and had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  She taught CCD classes at Our Lady of the Prairie for many years.  Her family was very important to her.  She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She died peacefully in her sleep with her family by her side.

She is survived by her children, Joe (Martha) Ott of Austin, Minnesota, Patti Ott of Quebec, Canada, Bob (Maureen) Ott of San Antonio, Texas, Kathy Baynes of Eden Prairie, and Connie (Lee) Stuewe of Belle Plaine.  She had  16 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 4 great- great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph in 2008; one brother, three sisters, two brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.