Ferdinand Otto Borkowski, son of Carl and Elizabeth (Ketelsen) Borkowski, was born June 19, 1905, at Manning. He was baptized in the Lincoln Township Lutheran Church southeast of Manning and attended country school.

November 26, 1954, he married Alvina Mickels in Omaha, Nebraska. To this union six children were born. After their marriage they farmed in the Manning and Manilla area. They retired from farming in 1972, but continued to live on the farm until 1986 when they moved to Harlan. He became a resident of the Baptist Memorial Home in 1992. It was there that he died August 19, 1995, at age ninety years and two months. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla, the Farm Bureau, and the American Milk Producers, Inc.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Carl Jr., Alfred, Tillie, Leona, and Ida. Surviving are his wife, Alvina of Harlan; his children, Randall (Peggy) Borkowski of Seattle, Washington; Lisa (Trent) Hovenga of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Gary (Tammy) Borkowski of Port Matilda, Pennsylvania; Berton (Mary Ann) Borkowski of Carroll; Richard Borkowski of Seattle, Washington, and Judy Dinsmore of Omaha; eighteen grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Lucy Borkowski of Irwin and a brother-in-law, Felix Hagedorn of Flandreau, South Dakota, and other relatives.

Funeral services were held August 22, 1995, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla with Pastor Timothy Geitz officiating. Burial was in the Harlan Cemetery with Richard Borkowski, Gary Borkowski, Benjamin Borkowski, Randall Borkowski, Berton Borkowski, and Jared Borkowski casket bearers. Pauley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.