Ottar was born January 29, 1937 in Norway, to Andreas and Mari Vatne. He attended school there, graduating from High School and attended some college. He also attended trade school, and later became a General Contractor after coming to the United States in 1962. He worked for Shear Hill Developers for many years in Mahopac. After becoming a US citizen, Ottar joined the US Army. In 1967, he married Antje Beckman in New Jersey. They raised two daughters, Melissa Kishbaugh (Kevin),of Dover Plains, and Christina Vatne of Danbury, CT.