Harry R & Lucy Fern Motter

MOTTER KRUEGER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/23/2010 at 16:37:22

History of Woodbury County, Iowa, 1984

Harry R and Lucy Fern (Krueger) Motter
By Muriel C Winterringer Meyer

Lucy Fern Krueger was born in Liston Township near Danbury on February 8, 1894. She was a daughter of Frank and Lelia (Martin) Krueger. She grew up in Oto and graduated in 1911 from Oto School. Fern, the name she use, attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She taught at several country schools, and the town schools Smithland and Washta, before she married Harry Motter in Sioux City on August 26, 1915.

Harry had been born November 14, 1889, at Bayard, Iowa. He grew up in Manning, graduating in the class of 1908. His father was born in Switzerland and came to Iowa with some German immigrants when 18 years of age. His mother was born in Germany and with her parents came to the Amana Colonies and lived there as a girl.

Harry worked at banks in Oto, Ida Grove and Early. The family moved from Oto to Ida Grove in July, 1927. Then to Early in January, 1929. After twenty-six years at the Early Savings Bank. Harry retired as Vice President in 1955. He continued as a Director until April of 1971, when he resigned and was appointed a Director Emeritus, an honorary position.

They were the parents of five children: Homer, Arlene and Dorothy were born in Oto, Harriet in Ida Grove and Robert, in Early. They were members of the Methodist Church of Early. All five children graduated from the Early High School.

They celebrated their sixty-sixth wedding anniversary before Harry’s death on June 30, 1982. He died in a Sioux City hospital and burial was in the Early Union Cemetery of Early, Iowa. Fern also died in a Sioux City hospital on April 28, 1983. Her burial too, was in the Early Union Cemetery.
1) Homer D Motter was born July 10, 1916. At his birth Elsie Timmerman, a cousin of Fern’s, was the practical nurse assisting. Homer attending Morningside College for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1939. He served in the China-Burma-India area. He retired after twenty-five years service. He married Olga Gustafson in July 1947; they have no children and live in the Grass County, California.
2) Arlene Motter was born December 20, 1918. She attended business college in Omaha. She worked for the U.S. Government in California. She met Peter Ege in California; they were married there October 23, 1948. Peter Ege came to America from Egersund, Norway, when he was nine years old. They have two sons. One lives in Ramsey, Minnesota and has their only grandchild, a girl. The other son lives in Concord, California; he is also married.
3) Dorothy Motter was born February 17, 1921. She graduated from Methodist Hospital in Sioux City as a registered nurse. She married LeRoy Anderson of Early. They have two sons, both living in Alameda, California. They have three granddaughters and one grandson. He is retired form the Alameda, California, Police Force. They live at Alta Sierra Country Club near Grass Valley, California.
4) Harriett Motter was born August 14, 1927. She married Robert Kleinfelder of Sioux City on September 5, 1948. She attended North West Institute of Medical Technology and graduated as a Laboratory Technician. Her husband served in the Korean War and continued his Army career, retiring as a Colonel. They have three sons, the oldest of which lives in Iowa and has two girls and a boy. The second boy lives in Utah and has two daughters. The youngest also lives in Utah, but isn’t married. Harriett and Robert have retired in Hoodsport, Washington.
5) Robert Motter was born June 20, 1933. He attended Morningside College four years, then the University of Minnesota for three years, majoring in Organic Chemistry and from there he graduated with a Ph.D. Degree. He works for Eastman Kodak. He married Beverly Trometer of Hinton, Iowa. They have two sons and one daughter. They live in Rochester, New York. The daughter is married and living in Massachusetts.