Bruce Bottge

Bruce Bottge was born on January 19, 1941, the son of Marvin & Alvhild Bottge. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at First Lutheran Church in Renville. He graduated from the Renville High School in 1959. He was united in marriage to Marjorie Benson in Granite Falls in February of 1964.Upon completion of the chemical dependency counseling training program at the Willmar State Hospital in 1972, Bruce began his counseling career at the State Hospital. He also worked at the Swift County Family Services in Benson and the Charlotte Treatment Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1975, Bruce was hired as the first primary treatment counselor at Project Turnabout in Granite Falls and continued there for 34 years.Bruce was a 40 year member of Alcoholics Anonymous, member of the Granite Falls Lutheran Church, past member of the Kiwanis, MN FAIR, Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Association of Counselors on Alcoholism & the Women's Shelter House Board of Directors. He was an avid early morning daily runner for over 30 years and director of ?The Best Little Race? & ?The Frosty Four Race? in Granite Falls for many years. He enjoyed being with his grandchildren, reading, listening to music, especially the blues, learning how to play the harmonica, following sports, running, riding his Snapper lawn mower & lively conversation. Bruce passed away on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, in Granite Falls, following an extended illness. He was 69 years of age.He is survived by his wife Marjorie; daughters: Beth (Les) High of Aberdeen, South Dakota and Sarah Ronning of Spicer; grandchildren: Austin, Zachary & Nicholas High, Courtney & Amber Ronning; brother Brian (Karen) Bottge of Madison, Wisconsin; his Aunt Ardus Windhorst of Minneapolis; and extended family and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents.