Benjamin Hess Otto, 84, lost his 14 month fight of multiple medical conditions Saturday, May 8th, at the Ft Meade VA Hospital in Ft Meade, South Dakota.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, May 12, at 10:30 a.m., at Black Hills National Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard. Pastor Steve Agan will officiate. Family and friends may gather at Kinkade Funeral Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery.

Ben was born in Milwaukee, WI, to Ben and Clara Marie (Hess) Otto. During his high school years, he was very active in sports. After high school, he went on to graduate from college and shortly after, enlisted and served his country in WW II. He was a survivor of the third wave of the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach in Normandy and declined two purple hearts in his tour of duty.

After the war, Ben started a painting and carpentry business in Milwaukee. In 1993 he moved to Deadwood. All who knew him knew he could easily be found playing poker and made his living doing so. He loved to be on his boat fishing until his illness prevented him from doing so. Ben was defiantly one to stand out in a crowd, those that knew him soon found out how big of a heart he really had and the help and compassion he gave to others.

He is proceeded in death by his parents, Ben and Clara Marie; one brother, Jay Otto.

He is survived by his adopted daughter, Julie Garrity, who had the wonderful pleasure of knowing all sides of Ben. After many of their debates over a higher power, he has no doubt we will all be playing cards again with him in Heaven.