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.

When Potts and his wife moved from Richfield to their house on Valleyview Road in Eden Prairie, they created decorative gardens in their front yard. Passersby would stop to compliment them.

Werket said her parents had a relationship to look up to. "I don't think I've met two people who got along as well as they did," she said.

Potts' life did not come without turbulence. His son, Randy, now of Eden Prairie, was disabled in a car accident. He spent 15 days in a coma with his dad by his side telling him that he was going to be OK.

"You felt so good in his presence," Lorraine Potts said. "You always felt like everything would be taken care of."

She said before her husband died, he thanked her for their life together. "We've had a wonderful life of 70 years," he said.

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Av. S., Edina, with visitation at 2 p.m.

In addition to his wife, his son, Randy, and his daughter Carol, he is survived by another daughter, Becky Potts of Boxford, Mass., two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Beatrice Dupuy • 612-673-1707