Phillip Alfred Kotta

Phillip Alfred Kotta passed away on December 17, 2011, at LifeCare Roseau Manor at the age of 89.
Phillip was born on March 5, 1922, in Falun Township of Roseau County. He was the youngest of nine children born to John and Frances (Virkus) Kotta, who were natives of Winona, Minn. He attended  Country School District #112 in Beaver Township through the eighth grade. He and Leonella (Taus) were married on April 16, 1947, in Benwood, Minn. They lived on the family farm in Falun Township where they raised small grain and hay, and ran a large dairy operation.
In addition, he worked several winters at Northwest Angle, Minn., as a logger. He was a contract welder to help build the existing Marvin Windows factory. He worked for Polaris Industries as a Quality Control Inspector for 18 years. He drove school bus several years for local School District #680. He also served on the Falun Township Board for 18 years.
He enjoyed spending time with his family. Every fall, he looked forward to spending many happy hours deer hunting with his sons and grandchildren. Phillip and Leonella enjoyed traveling with their daughters to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Sequoia National Park and Hoover Dam, as well as visiting family in California. They also took several trips to Disney World to visit their daughter in Orlando.
Among his hobbies he enjoyed carpentry work, making everything from small lawn ornaments and cabinets to several neighboring houses. He was instrumental in building the addition onto St. Philip’s Catholic Church. Music and art were among his many talents. He loved playing the accordion while watching his grandchildren dance. He will be remembered as a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa, caretaker and hard worker.
He is survived by his wife, Leonella, of Roseau; six children: Phillip D. (Barbara) Kotta of Warroad, Leonard (Patricia) Kotta of Fargo, N.D., Arlen (Julie) Kotta of Comstock, Minn., Mary (Richard) Merrill of Alvarado, Minn., Bryan (Judy) Kotta of Moorhead, Minn., and Rosanne (William) Sack of Orlando, Fla.; seven grandchildren: Alyce, Jonathan, Janelle, Jill, Phillip, Matthew and Katrina; two great-grandchildren, Paige and Benjamin; and one sister-in-law, Mary Jane (Sylvester) Kotta.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson Benjamin Kotta; brothers Leonard, Sylvester, Clarence, John and Ray; sisters Angela (Clarence) Johnson, Sister Immaculata (Dorothy) and Delphine (Anton) Moser.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, December 20 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Falun. Visitation will be on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m., with a 7:00 prayer service at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau. Interment will be at St. Philip’s cemetery.