Biographical Information of Fredrick (Fred) Oscar Kotter

Fredrick Oscar Kotter was born in Brigham City, Utah on 16 January 1880. He was the fourth son and seventh child of eight born to Henry and Petrina Kotter. His mother died in 1890 when he was ten years old. Three years later his father married a younger woman, Wilhelmina Albertina Erickson. They referred to their stepmother lovingly as “Aunt Minnie.” Fred went through the normal course of schooling for the times, finishing some three years of high school. His education was supplemented by on-the-job training at the hand of his father and older brothers on the farm.

In the later 1800's, his work on the farm was most helpful in supporting Henry and Will on their missions. Later on, Fred was also able to go on a mission, and like his brothers, he went to Germany, the land of his father’s birth. While on his mission (1902 to 1904), he was able to travel to the town of Haustenbeck and visit the area where his father lived. None of his relatives were members of the Church, so he took the opportunity to do a little “missionary work” as explained in his letter.

After his mission, Fred returned to Brigham City but did not go out to work on the farm. He decided that it was time to pursue his own interests. Fred’s first substantial employment was with the Utah Independent Telephone Company. He was then employed by the Western Electric Company repairing telephone switchboards, and later as a carpenter of Salt Lake Hardware Company.

Fred met Bertha Midgley and on 18 November 1914, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Fred and Bertha became parents on the 8 December 1915 when Ralph was born. He was followed by Nola in 1920 and Virginia in 1923. On 15 February 1938, Bertha passed away after battling ovarian cancer. In 1946, Fred married Edith Midgley Furner, his former wife’s niece.

Fred was out mowing the lawn in early April and suffered a stroke. He passed away April 4, 1968 at the age of eighty-eight.