Obituary of Barton Lee Ottoson

Barton “Bart” Ottoson, a man who could never be accused of blending into the background, sailed off into the great beyond on September 24, 2024, leaving behind a legacy as colourful and varied as his life.

Born in Minnesota and raised in California, Bart sought tranquility later in life by moving to the peaceful expanse of the Canadian prairies, where he and Meredith (his wife of 58 years) found their own slice of happiness and serenity. 

First in Vermilion, Alberta and later in Davidson, Saskatchewan, you could usually find Bart and Meredith enjoying long drives in the country, soaking in the scenery, and stopping along the way to meander through antique shops to find their next treasure.

Music was a big part of Bart's life from an early age. He was a dynamo on the piano, with Scott Joplin's “The Entertainer” a personal favourite. He also played the harpsichord, the spoons, and sometimes even the jug. But nothing made him happier than blowing into his harmonica, enjoying cowboy tunes like “Happy Trails to You.”

Family vacations were also not complete without music, with movie soundtracks among his favourites (Top Gun, anyone?) He could often be heard singing along to The Beach Boys, John Denver, Patsy Cline, Linda Ronstadt, and enjoying sea shanties like “Barnacle Bill the Sailor.” In fact, music was so important to Bart that he had a sound system going through the entire house, allowing him to blast anything from Crosby, Stills and Nash to the Annie soundtrack anytime the mood hit him.

Bart was known for his loud, boisterous presence and knack for charting his own course. He started his career in sales and marketing and later decided to trade the corporate grind for the world of academia. As a college professor, Bart enthusiastically imparted wisdom – sometimes loudly and always with great passion. Teaching turned out to be his true calling, and he retired from Lakeland College after more than 25 years.

Peace and serenity never meant boredom for Bart. He spent many summers sailing the open waters with his family – sometimes telling the wind where to go. (He even competed in the Alberta Summer Games with his wife, taking 1st place in sailing.) He also enjoyed restoring old wagons to their former glory, working magic with wood, and amassing a cowboy memorabilia collection that would make any Wild West enthusiast jealous. Just ask Fel Pennypacker.

Wagons and sailboats weren't the only types of transportation that Bart loved. Trains, planes, and automobiles also ranked high on his list of favorites. Bart had his small plane pilot license and loved to fly the skies of Southern California. He even tried his hand at building a Long EZ airplane in the 1980s. 

Bart enjoyed watching cowboy movies with train heists, visiting train museums, and waving at train conductors in hopes that they would toot their horns. During his sports car phase, he bought his wife an RX-7 (aka “the seven”) and secretly taught his youngest daughter how to do burn outs with it. He and his wife also had a bicycle phase, but his love of bike shorts lasted exactly one day.

Bart had a deep faith in God that began in his early years. Along the way, he enjoyed many roles in the church, including choir member and Sunday School teacher. Bart shared his faith with his family, collecting tithes for those in need, opening his home to a great variety of people, hosting international students, and standing up for what was right.

Of course, no mention of Bart would be complete without acknowledging his legendary sense of humour. For instance, he once swapped out his Jeep Wagoneer horn with a fog horn, he often scratched his ears with a car key whiles saying “vroom-vroom”, and he never missed a chance to enjoy a well-timed fart joke, laughing heartily at every one – even in his final days.

Bart leaves behind a life well-lived, full of laughter, hard work, and joy in the simple things. As he sails into the sunset, we imagine him laughing once more at the sound of the wind, cracking one last joke in his own unmistakable style. May the prairie winds carry him swiftly to his next adventure, and may the jokes never stop.

Barton is survived by his wife Meredith, sons Brent (Jill) and Eric (Selena), daughters Amie (Leonard) and Jill (Scott), his grandchildren Brittany, Tyler, Katie, Beau, Meaghan, Ester (Mitch), Gloria, Rebeka, and Abiela, and his great-grandson, Khai.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation to the Alzheimer's Society of Alberta, the Alberta Cancer Foundation, or the Vermilion Food Bank.

"His love and his care shelter me.

He prepares a quiet harbour before me."