Sarah Jane Ottesen, a child of God, age 89, of Decorah, Iowa died on February 21, 2026, surrounded by her family just one day shy of her 90th birthday.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Madison Lutheran Church, 2658 Madison Road, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. David E. Schafer presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa. There will be no visitation prior to the service at the church on Tuesday morning. Please come in and be seated.

Sarah Jane (Hovden) was born on February 22, 1936, the daughter of Carmen and Myrtle (Haugen) Hovden in rural Winneshiek County, Iowa. She was baptized at Madison Lutheran Church on March 29, 1936 and was confirmed on May 14, 1950, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church.

After the loss of her father at a young age, she was instrumental in caring for her younger siblings. Sarah graduated from Decorah High School in 1955. While working as a waitress at the Springer Hotel and Café, she met Don Graves. They were united in marriage on June 17, 1956. Sarah and Don farmed with the help of their three children, Julie, Jay, and Joel. Don passed away on April 21, 1980.

Sarah reconnected with Dave Ottesen at their class reunion. Later, they joined in marriage at Hawkeye Lutheran Church on July 18, 1981, and along with Dave’s three daughters, Cindy, Tammy, and Jackie, the family grew. Sarah and Dave enjoyed many fishing trips up north, where they could put their boat in the water to land the big one and listen to her favorite sound of the Loons on the lake.

Sarah and Dave lived in Vinton until July 1983, when they became the owners of Oneota Lanes in Decorah and moved back home. After twenty years of the sound of dropping pins and fun family gatherings, they retired from the bowling alley. After retirement, Dave and Sarah traveled each winter to Phoenix to spend a few months in the warmer weather. After Dave passed in 2015, she cherished spending time and making memories with her family and numerous friends, including the women of the Madison Lutheran Church Circle, the Oneota Country Club ladies, the Class of 1955, and her breakfasts with the widows. Sarah was a proud 4-H leader of the Madison Merry Makers, taught Sunday school, and was a member of the Madison Lutheran Church.

Sarah was a loving, caring person and touched people’s lives in numerous ways. With her deep love of family and unending faith, may she rest in peace. She will truly be missed.

Sarah is survived by her children: Julie Snitker (Dave Sacquitne); Jay Graves; Joel (Joyce) Graves; Cindy (Bill) Crandall; Tammy (Jerry) Vrzak; and Jackie (Duane) Novotny. Her grandchildren: Ryan Snitker; Adam (Staci) Snitker; Dan (Alicia) Sacquitne; Adam Sacquitne; Danielle (Tommy) Nelson and Courtney Graves (special friend Brandon Adams); Ashley (Nick) Darga, Alex (Hedai) Horak, Jordan (Ethan) Crandall and Brooke (special friend Doug Pealer) Crandall; Hailey (Logan) Gage, Braiden (Mackenzie) Vrzak, Austin (Rachel) Vrzak; Allison (Dakota) Smith, Ben (Brittany) Novotny and Taylor Novotny; along with twenty-two great-grandchildren: Taya, Landree, Lainee, Calvin, Sabrina, Catherine, David, Lincoln, Hadley, Haizlee, Jensen, Oliver, Olivia, Ashlyn, Leighton, Beckett, Tatum, Bristol, Berlyn, and three great grandchildren on the way in 2026.

Sarah is also survived by her siblings and their spouses: Mary Teslow, Dorothy (Larry) Brooks; Georgiann (DuWayne) Schweinefus, sister in-laws Ina Hovden and Kate Hovden; and brother-in-law Kenny Ottesen; followed by many nieces and nephews.

Sarah is preceded in death by her husbands, Don Graves and Dave Ottesen, her parents Carmen and Myrtle Hovden, and Stepfather Adolph Nordsving, her mothers and fathers in-laws Sylvan and Martha Graves and Milton and Olga Ottesen, her siblings and their spouses Kay (John) Reagan, Marvin (Donna) Hovden, Donald Hovden, Carmen Hovden, and brothers and sisters in-laws Hubie Teslow, Curt Cornelius, Leonard and Peggy Graves, Spencer and Darlene Graves, Janet Ottesen, and many nieces and nephews.