Otto was born in North Dakota by the name of Pelkington and was adopted as an infant by John Butson and his wife Emily McConnell. They were homesteading in the Pleasant Valley, Rollette County area of North Dakota. They moved to the Kelliher, Saskatchewan area in the early 1900's, and farmed there there until 1921. Otto had married Eva Collins in 1920, when the Butson family moved to the Meaford area of Ontario. Otto's Mother Emily was from that area. He worked at many different things over the years, including owning and operating a fishing boat that he named the " Lucky Strike ". He was a fishing guide in Meaford for many years.Later on he worked for the federal government as a road grader operator until he retired in 1965.

      He was a good husband and father and worked hard for his family. He loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. Also loved a good game of Euchre or Cribbage.