Lela Deloris Fortkamp

Lela Deloris Fortkamp went home to her maker on Nov. 26, 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 Nov. 27, 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, great-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 life time. 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 Glasco.
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, Kansas; granddaughter, Brenna Fortkamp of Lincoln; grandson, Austin Vrbas of Denver; granddaughter, Jolie and husband Ryan Ricenbaw of Lincoln; 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.
Liewer Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.