Viola May Ottosen

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant, Vi.

Viola May Ottosen was born June 21, 1924 to William and Alta (Gregory) Brandenberger in Lankershim, CA, a village we know today as North Hollywood. She was an only child, and was raised primarily by her maternal grandmother, Sadie Shay. Vi graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles in 1942.

Vi was united in holy marriage to John Jack Ottosen on September 19, 1945 at the Lutheran Service Center in San Francisco. Typical of the times, she awaited Jacks return at the end of the War from the South Pacific. They were blessed with 63 years of married life together. God also blessed Vi and Jack with the gift of two daughters, Janice and Carole. They lived in a small duplex after their wedding until 1948 due to the housing shortage that followed World War II. They moved to Pico Rivera in 1948 and finally settled in their permanent home in Whittier in 1952.

Vi was reborn as a child of God in the waters of Holy Baptism on Palm Sunday, April 6, 1952 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Montebello by Rev. G. H. Smukel. Her husband, Jack, and their daughters, Janice and Carole were also baptized that day. Having been Baptized and duly instructed in the Christian faith as it is confessed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church; and having promised to be steadfast in this Christian faith, Vi and Jack were Confirmed and admitted to the altar to receive the medicine of immortality, Christs life-giving body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. Vis confirmation verse was: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

Vis Christian faith was very important to her. She attended St. Johns Lutheran Church, Montebello; Peace Lutheran Church, Pico Rivera and Trinity Lutheran Church, Whittier (since 1979), where she was active in the Ladies Aid (serving as President for many years) Living Way Bible Study and was the main contact person for the Prayer Chain. She also volunteered her time at Trinity Lutheran School and the Whittier Public Library, where she enjoyed reading to the kids. As president of Ladies Aid, she made sure there were always an ample supply of potato chips at any lunch gathering.

Vi was full of life, vivacious and very spunky. She was a strong-willed person until the end. She loved to cook meals and host gatherings at her home. Vi was a good cook; and a favorite pastime of hers was to clip the latest recipes from magazines and newspapers, of which she had accumulated quite a collection, but seldomly got around to making them.

Vi enjoyed collecting, making and refurbishing porcelain dolls. Her favorite doll was Shirley Temple. She had a large collection of dolls and set up an in-home repair shop. Vi always had big ideas and believed that you could accomplish anything with a can of spray paint and a hot glue gun. She had tons of half-finished projects. Vi was also a beautiful seamstress, and made clothing for herself, her daughters, granddaughters and dolls.

Vi loved her family and was very dedicated to them. She was always ready for any adventure (with her walking shoes, tube of red lipstick, tissue and little wallet), whether camping or walking to McDonalds with her grandkids for ice cream. Vi always came to church with a Ziplock bag full of wrapped peppermint and butterscotch candy to keep the kids quiet during the sermon.

The Lord of the Church called Vi home to heaven on March 16, 2019, at the age of 94.

She is survived by her daughter, Janice (Tom) Neinast; granddaughters, Nicole (Arthur) Schulert and Heather (Zach) Aufdemberg; and great-grandchildren, Jane, Grace, Rosalie & Joseph Schulert; and Charlotte & Joshua Aufdemberg. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Carole; and husband, Jack.

A Service of Praise Marking the Entry of Vi into Christs Heavenly Kingdom will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Whittier, California on March 30, 2019 at 11:00 am, with Rev. Herbert M. Percy, Jr. officiating. Her earthly remains will be laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery on April 1, 2019 at 12:45 pm, to await the Resurrection of the dead on the Last Day.

May all who mourn Vis death be comforted in the sure and promised hope of the Resurrection of the dead for all those who believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their only Savior from sin.

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. (John 11:25-26 ESV)