Lela Deloris Fortkamp went home to her maker on November 26th, 2022, at
Bird City, Kansas, in her second home, her beloved motor home, while
celebrating the holiday and her birthday with family.
Lela was born
to Sallie (Ellis) and Merl Teeter on November 27th, 1934, in Benkelman,
Nebraska. She grew up on the farm with her parents and sister, Vada, in
rural Benkelman where she helped her mother and learned how to cook the
excellent food that she was known for. She was baptized and raised in
the Christian faith. She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran
church in Palisade and current member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church of
Wauneta.
She married Donald Fortkamp May 6, 1951, and made her home south
of Wauneta. When Don entered the US Army and was eventually sent to
Germany, she followed him with their infant son, Dee, where they lived
with a German family in Berlin and enjoyed seeing Europe as a young
couple. After Don’s time in the service, they returned home to a farm
north of Palisade where their daughter, Tina, was born and she spent her
life. She was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, farm helper, truck
driver, jewelry saleswoman, card player, cake decorator, she loved to
dance, and was an active member of her community over her lifetime. In
1976 they remodeled a home in Palisade and once retired, she and Don
spent their winters in southern Texas where she and Don made many close
friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Merl and Sallie Teeter, sister Vada Manning, and great-grandson, Shepherd.
She is survived by her husband, Don, son Dee and wife Jennifer of
Lincoln, daughter Tina and husband, Denny Vrbas of Benkelman, brother in
law Harold Manning of Stratton, granddaughter, Tifany and husband Terry
Glasco of Bird City, KS, granddaughter, Brenna Fortkamp of Lincoln,
grandson, Austin Vrbas of Denver, granddaughter, Jolie and husband Ryan
Ricenbaw of Lincoln, and seven great-grandchildren; Kenneth, Harper,
Faith, Landry, Valor, Honor, and Morri and special exchange student,
Margarita Calleja of Guadalajara, Mexico, who was like a daughter to
her.
A celebration of life service will be held at the farm in the spring.
Memorials may be written to the Palisade Fire Department.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com