Kenneth Bottem

Kenneth Bottem, age 89, of St. James died on Monday, July 1, 2019 at Pleasant View Good Samaritan Society in St. James. Funeral services will be 11am, Friday, July 5, 2019 at Albion Lutheran Church, rural St. James with Rev. Bob Springer officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the St. James Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation will be Friday at the church beginning at 10am. Kenneth Lloyd Bottem was born in rural Watonwan County on December 31, 1929, the son of George and Thea (Blackstad) Bottem. Ken served in the Air Force, while stationed in Japan, met his future wife, Mie Mieko Nishikawa at a dance they both attended. Ken returned to the States and completed his military service. He then returned to Japan and he and Mieko were married June 3, 1952 in Tokyo. The couple made their home in Minnesota where they farmed for 7 years. They moved into St. James where Ken went to work for the police department, where he worked for over 20 years. He then opened and operated Bottem Locksmith shop. Following retirement they moved to Marcell and lived on Spider Lake then to Grand Rapid and back to St. James in 2004. Ken is survived by a brother Arnold (Delores) Bottem of Litchfield, 6 nieces, 5 nephews, many great and great-great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, parents, infant brother James and siblings Ruth & Leland Pearson and Telford & Luetta Bottem. Visitation 1 10:00 am - 11:00 am Friday, July 5, 2019 Albion Lutheran Church 10454 250th Ave. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 11:00 am Friday, July 5, 2019 Albion Lutheran Church 10454 250th Ave. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Albion Lutheran Cemetery-St. James 10454 250th Ave. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Military honors to be provided by the St. James Veterans Honor Guard. Fellowship Lunch to be served following burial.