Otto came to the United States in 1900 at age 22, and received his naturalization papers in 1905 in Houghton County, Michigan. He married Lydia Alina Koski on December 26, 1901, in Michigan. She was born December 20, 1886, in Atlantic Mine, Michigan, a daughter of Matt and Helena Koski. Lydia had just turned 15 years old, six days prior getting married to Otto. To this union were born 11 living and two stillborn children.
Otto and Lydia they moved to Perth, North Dakota in 1908. First they lived on a farm north and east of Perth called the “Adams place”, and later referred to as “Bengston farm.” Then they moved to a farm six miles north and one mile west of Perth called the “Taylor place”, then to the “Wilson place”, which was one-half mile north of the Finnish Apostolic Cemetery. The next move was to a farm one mile east of the Taylor farm which was Matt Koski’s farm. Eventually Otto was able to buy the Taylor place. There they spent the remainder of their farming years. The Taylor place was eventually bought by Bill and Edna Hoyhtya and is now know as the Hoyhtya farm.
Lydia (Koski) had a stroke August 3, 1935, and this left her paralyzed on her right side. She passed away May 13, 1936, and is buried in the Finnish Apostolic Cemetery near Perth.
Otto had been married in Finland before he came to America. She, his first wife died in Finland, at about age 19 of tuberculosis. There are no known children to this union.
Otto married Mrs. Lydia Raisanen, (His third wife) December 9, 1942, in Minneapolis. Lydia was from the Rock Lake, N. Dak. area. There were no children from this union, as they were both getting up in years.
Otto's second and third wives were both named Lydia.
Otto was also a speaker in the Apostolic Lutheran Church. He was strict in his ways, but firm in his faith.