Joseph E. (Joe) Otte, 71 of Denton, Montana, died Saturday afternoon, September 23rd, 2023 in Peace Hospice in Great Falls from injuries sustained in a workplace accident on September 7th.

Joe was born August 26, 1952, in Coldwater, Ohio, the son of William J. and Valeria (Giere) Otte.

He received his schooling in Coldwater graduating from high school in 1970. He then attended college in Dayton, Ohio graduating with an Associate Degree in Accounting. He worked in Dayton for a short time in the accounting field and after visiting Montana in the spring of 1977 for his niece's baptism, he fell in love with the slower pace and moved west later that summer to work for his brother-in-law and sister on the Goettemoeller Ranch. In the spring of 1979, he started working for Denton Farmers Co-op where he worked for 19 years. He then worked for Glass Trucking for a couple of years and then to Barber Seed Company in 2000, which later became Clearview Seed where he was employed at the time of his death.

Joe enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, shooting trap and helping on the ranch. He was always willing to give a helping hand when needed and loved to pick on his nieces and nephews. He had a competitive side to him, especially when the cards came out at holidays. Joe was a long-time member of the Denton Rod & Gun Club, Denton Lions, an EMT for the Denton Ambulance, taught Hunter Safety for many years and was Mayor of Denton for 10 years. He was also a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Denton.

Joe is survived by his siblings Lois (Mark) Eilerman of Arcanum, OH, Carole (Jim) Goettemoeller of Denton, MT, Bill (Linda) Otte of Watersound, FL, Marilyn (Jim) Mahoney of Goffstown, NH, Rick (Melissa) Otte of Woodinville, WA, Mark (Jill) Otte and Greg Otte and Brother-in-Law Larry Knapke all of Coldwater, OH. He is also survived by 11 nieces and 9 nephews and many great and great great nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Lorraine Knapke of Coldwater, OH, as well as 3 nephews, Kris Eilerman, Chuck Goettemoeller and Monte Goettemoeller.

Funeral Mass for Joseph E. Otte will be Monday, October 2, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Leo's Catholic Church in Lewistown with cremation to follow the services.

Vigil Services will be Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. in the Cloyd Chapel. Committal will be later in the Goettemoeller Family Cemetery.

Friends are asked to make memorials to the Denton Foundation Fund or the charity of their choice and they may be left at the Cloyd Funeral Home.

Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.