Obituary: Lake Region Press, Nov. 16, 1978, Alexandria, Minnesota
Joseph S. Bothun
Joseph S. Bothun was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota on Oct. 25, 1896, the son of John and Olina (Anderson) Bothun. He attended school in Freeborn County, and was in the United states Army during World War I. Joe married Laura Timm on November 18, 1924 at Miltona. The Bothuns during their married life lived in Minneapolis, Miltona and Nelson, where Joe farmed and also was an insurance agent.
Mr. Bothun has been a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Nelson for the past forty years, and a member of the Osakis American Legion Post #111.
Joe died on November 6, 1978 at the Douglas County Hospital.
Survivors are his wife, Laura; one son, Rodney of Calexico, California; one step grandson of Elcentro California; one great grandson; two sisters, Mrs. Bill (Rhoda) Pleiss of Albert Lea, MN and Mrs. Al (Cora) Erickson of Owatonna, MN; two brothers, Herman Bothun of Portland, Oregon and Clarence Bothun of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents and eight sisters and brothers.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, November 9, 1978, 2:00 p.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church with Rev. Paul Ranum and Rev. Herbert E. Malm officiating. The soloist, Mrs. Harold Bradley, was accompanied by Mrs. Gerald Sather.
Pallbearers were Ray O'Brien, Harold Lundquist, Jerry Steidl, Kenneth Henning, Roy Schwendemann and Darrell Timm. Interment was at the Nelson Cemetery, Nelson Minnesota. Services directed by the Anderson Funeral Home.

Minnesota Marriage index:
DOUGLAS County
L - 521
11/18/1924
BOTHUN, JOSEPH
TIMM, LAURA E

Minnesota death index:
BOTHUN, JOSEPH SELMAR
Date of Birth: 25 Oct 1896
Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
Mother Maiden Name: ANDERSON
certid# 1978-MN-028173
Date of Death: 06 Nov 1978
County of Death: DOUGLAS

One son was born to the Bothuns, named Rodney. His obituary is also online:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ivpressonline/obituary.aspx?n=rodney-s-bothun&pid=137102207#fbLoggedOut

RODNEY Selmar BOTHUN
Mar. 9, 1927 - Nov. 21, 2009
Rodney Bothun, 82, of El Centro passed away Saturday, November 21 at El Centro Regional Medical Center.
He was born March 9, 1927 in Minneapolis, MN and later married Guillermina L. Bothun on July 28, 1956 in Yuma, AZ. Rodney received a Korean service medal for his service as a H.S. Radio Operator between 1951- 1953. He was employed as a telegrapher with Southern Pacific Railroad for 40 years and at the same time worked at Amigo Real Estate as an agent.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday, December 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hems Brothers Mortuary in El Centro.
Service will commence at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 12 at Grace Lutheran Church located at 8th Street and Holt Avenue in El Centro with Rev. Jonathan R. Burkee officiating. Rodney will be laid to rest with military honors at Mountain View Cemetery in Calexico immediately following the services.
He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Bothun; mother, Laura Bothun; sons, Richard, Paul, and James Bothun.
Rodney is survived by his wife, Guillermina L. Bothun of El Centro; 3 grandsons, Richard (Joy) Bothun of Sacramento, CA, and James and Paul Bothun of Palo Alto, CA; granddaughter, Cinthy Ortiz; 3 great-grand- daughters, Alyssa Nicole, Aliya and Aria.
.Published in Imperial Valley Press Online from December 10 to December 11, 2009

Joseph Bothun's birth information shows a different first name on the records, but the date is correct. I found this at familysearch.org.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FD3J-QYW

name: Victor Joseph Bothun
gender: Male
baptism/christening date:
baptism/christening place:
birth date: 25 Oct 1896
birthplace: Bancroft, Freeborn, Minnesota
death date:
name note:
race: White
father's name: John P. Bothun
father's birthplace: Mn
father's age: 34y
mother's name: Oline Bothun
mother's birthplace: Norway
mother's age: 32y
indexing project (batch) number: C58361-1
system origin: Minnesota-EASy
source film number: 1315841

Census records for the Bothuns:

1920 Joseph was back at home with his family after serving in World War 1, in Freeborn county, Minnesota

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MWYC-S8Q

name: Joseph Bothun
residence: , Freeborn, Minnesota
estimated birth year: 1897
age: 23
birthplace: Minnesota
relationship to head of household: Son
gender: Male
race: White
marital status: Single
father's birthplace:
mother's birthplace:
film number: 1820830
digital folder number: 4312178
image number: 00732
sheet number: 2
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self John Bothun M 60y Minnesota
wife Lena Bothun F 57y Norway
dau Rhoda Bothun F 25y Minnesota
son Joseph Bothun M 23y Minnesota
dau Nora Bothun F 19y Minnesota
dau Cora Bothun F 17y Minnesota
dau Olga Bothun F 14y North Dakota
son Clarence Bothun M 12y North Dakota

The family on the 1895 census, the year before Joseph was born
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MQD6-JLW

name: Rhoda Bothun
titles & terms (original):
residence: Bancroft, Freeborn, Minnesota
age: 6m
estimated birth year: 1895
place of birth: Minnesota
race (original): W
gender: Female
line number: 18
family number: 28
page number: 1
gsu film number: 000565772
Household Gender Age Birthplace
John P Bothun M 36y Minnesota
Olive Bothun F 30y Norway
Clara Bothun F 12y Minnesota
Peder Bothun M 10y Minnesota
Hilda Bothun F 7y Minnesota
Hendrick Bothun M 6y Minnesota
Oscar Bothun M 4y Minnesota
Bernt Bothun M 2y Minnesota
Rhoda Bothun F 6m Minnesota

In 1910 the family was living out in North Dakota.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLGK-4QY

name: Joseph Bothen
birthplace: Minnesota
relationship to head of household: Son
residence: Prosperity, Renville, North Dakota
marital status:
race : White
gender: Male
immigration year:
father's birthplace: Minnesota
mother's birthplace: Norway
family number: 70
page number: 3
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self John Bothen M 54y Minnesota
wife Lena Bothen F 48y Norway
son Henry Bothen M 21y Minnesota
son Oscar Bothen M 19y Minnesota
son Bermie Bothen M 17y Minnesota
dau Rhode Bothen F 15y Minnesota
son Joseph Bothen M 13y Minnesota
son Herman Bothen M 11y Minnesota
dau Norh Bothen F 9y Minnesota
dau Cora Bothen F 6y Minnesota
dau Olga Bothen F 4y North Dakota
son Clarance Bothen M 2y North Dakota

newly married in 1930
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X38M-KGG

name: Joseph S Bothun
event: Census
event date: 1930
event place: St Louis Park, Hennepin, Minnesota
gender: Male
age: 32
marital status: Married
race: White
birthplace: Minnesota
estimated birth year: 1898
immigration year:
relationship to head of household: Head
father's birthplace: Norway
mother's birthplace: Norway
enumeration district number: 0314
family number: 20
sheet number and letter: 1B
line number: 74
nara publication: T626, roll 1101
film number: 2340836
digital folder number: 4610055
image number: 00509
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Joseph S Bothun M 32 Minnesota
wife Laura E Bothun F 29 Minnesota
son Rodney S Bothun M 3 Minnesota

1940 census
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KSKP-MTZ
name: Joseph S Bothun
titles & terms:
event: Census
event year: 1940
event place: Nelson, Nelson Village, Douglas, Minnesota, United States
gender: Male
age: 41
marital status: Married
race (original):
race (standardized): White
relationship to head of household (original):
relationship to head of household (standardized): Head
birthplace: Minnesota
estimated birth year: 1899
residence in 1935: Rural, Douglas, Minnesota
enumeration district number: 21-29
family number: 16
sheet number and letter: 1B
line number: 48
nara publication number: T627
nara roll number: 1919
digital folder number: 005454956
image number: 00887
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Joseph S Bothun M 41 Minnesota
wife Lena E Bothun F 39 Minnesota
son Rodney Bothun M 13 Minnesota