FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * ERICKSON JOHN D   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol OTTER TAIL CORP [OTTR] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President & CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) 215 S CASCADE ST 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/23/2008 (Street) FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537-2801 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 12/23/2008   G(1)(2) V 1,000 (3) D $ 0 83,788 (4) D   Common Stock 12/23/2008   G(1)(5) V 1,000 (3) A $ 0 1,000 I By Foundation Common Stock 12/23/2008   S(1)(5)   787 D $ 22.37 213 I By Foundation Common Stock 12/23/2008   S(1)(5)   213 D $ 22.38 0 I By Foundation Common Stock               4,981.908 I ESOP

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Options (right to buy)

$ 19.75

04/10/2001(6)

04/10/2010

Common Stock

25,000

20,000

D

Stock Options (right to buy)

$ 26.25

04/09/2002(6)

04/09/2011

Common Stock

75,000

75,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
ERICKSON JOHN D 215 S CASCADE ST FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537-2801	X		President & CEO

Signatures

/s/ John D Erickson by Debra J Lill, Attorney-in-Fact		12/23/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	All sales and gifts reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to Rule 10b5-1(c) trading plans.
(2)	Trading Plan was adopted by the reporting person on 3/6/2008.
(3)	These shares were gifted from the joint account with his wife through Merrill Lynch to The John and Kim Erickson Family Foundation, a non-profit charitable corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code also held with Merrill Lynch.
(4)	Total direct holdings include shares jointly held with spouse through Merrill Lynch and shares acquired individually pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards and Performance Award distributions.
(5)	Trading Plan was adopted by The John and Kim Erickson Family Foundation, a non-profit charitable corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code on 5/7/2008.
(6)	Stock options vest in cumulative annual installments of 25% beginning the date shown.

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