Neil Potts' family keeps memories of their father and husband tucked inside a jar. In the little stories, typed on strips of colored paper, lives the calm, patient man and pilot who adored his wife of 70 years and instilled the values of hard work and responsibility in his three children.
Potts revisited those memories before he died of emphysema on Oct. 6, at home in the presence of his family. He was 93. His daughter Carol Werket, of Hastings, now holds onto the jar of memories.
Potts, born in Illinois to two teachers, was a pilot who kept his family grounded. He flew for Northwest Airlines for 41 years and during World War II worked as a training pilot in the U.S. Navy Air Corps.
During cadet training, he met his wife-to-be, Lorraine. He had first met her in high school; when they met again in 1942, Potts wrote her a letter that said he was going to marry her.
They moved to Richfield from Boston in 1949. While flying for Northwest, Potts flew pregnant cows to Thailand, his wife said. He also worked as director of 747 training.
Potts' passion for flying extended to his personal life as well. He, his wife and children traveled around the world together, making yearly trips to Europe. He later took his grandchildren on trips as well.
In 1982, at age 60, Potts was required to retire from Northwest, but he did not want to stop flying. So he and other pilots sued the airline and won. He went back to work until 1990 as a second officer.
Even his second retirement did not stop him from spending time at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Along with his wife, he volunteered for Travelers Assistance for 25 years until he was 91.
