The following obituaries are from the May 10, 2008 print edition of the Prior Lake American newspaper:

Vernon G. Spaulding

Vernon "Bud" Spaulding, 87, of Sun City, Calif., passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. He is survived by family in the Prior Lake area.

Vernon was born and raised in California. He served as a 1st lieutenant in the U. S. Army during World War II. He was a professor for over 38 years at Pasadena City College and LaVerne University.

Survivors included his wife, Eldora Borchardt Spaulding; four children; three stepchildren; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 5, followed by interment at Riverside National Cemetery.

"Bud" will be sadly missed by his family, relatives and many friends.

Ernest W. Ottoson

Ernest Ottoson, 93, of Prior Lake, formerly of Northeast Minneapolis, passed away on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.

A retired U.S. Postal worker and a member of NARFE, he loved traveling and music.

Survived by wife of 58 years, Norma; sons, Keith (Carol), Allan (Kris) and David (Carol); grandchildren, Joe, Heather (Collan) Zehnder, Keri and Andy; great-grandson, Zachary Zehnder; many other relatives and friends.

Memorial service is 1 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16150 Arcadia Avenue S.E., Prior Lake. Visitation from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the church and one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to the National Park Service.

Cremation Society of MN Edina, 952-924-4100.

Allen E. Short

Allen Short, 64, of Prior Lake, passed away Friday, May 2, 2008 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.Allen Short

Allen was born June 3, 1943 at Moline, Ill. to Robert Allen Short and Pearl Reata (Holden) Short. Allen married Connie (Parchert) Short on Dec.18, 1965 at Reynolds Methodist Church, Reynolds, Ill.

Allen enjoyed golfing, hunting, gardening and his major interest – his grandchildren. Allen worked in management in the computer industry. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Loved and forever missed by wife, Connie Short of Prior Lake; daughters, Maia (Patrick) Caldwell of Prior Lake, Tia Scott of Lakeville; five grandchildren, Logan, Hannah and Jeremiah Caldwell, Sarah and Brenna Scott; brothers, Robert Edward (Liz) Short of Cabool, Mo., Thomas Short of Cabool, Mo.; sister-in-laws, Linda Brown of Viola, Ill., Shirley Parchert of Reynolds, Ill.; brother-in-law, Arnold (Jan) Parchert of Somonauk, Ill.; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his parents-in-law, Carl and Gloryl Parchert.

Funeral service was Monday, May 5, at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16150 Arcadia Avenue S.E. in Prior Lake. Visitation was held Sunday, May 4, from 4-8 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant Street S.E. in Prior Lake. Visitation also at the church one hour prior to services. Pallbearers were Luke Brown, Joe Docherty, Scott Flaata, Roger Nightingale, Arnold Parchert, Carl Parchert, Jason Parchert, Mike Short, Mark Stockhowe and Doug Weeks. Interment was Wednesday, May 7, at Reynolds Cemetery in Reynolds, Ill.

There was a visitation on Tuesday, May 6, from 4-8 p.m. at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home in Milan, Ill.

Funeral arrangements by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake, www.ballardsunderfuneral.com.