Kokomo - Elizabeth Joan "Betty" Ortman, 92, Kokomo, passed away at 12:21 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at University Place, West Lafayette.

She was born Feb. 28, 1932, in Tipton, the daughter of the late John Clement and Eva (Johannes) Funke. On Nov. 21, 1953, at St. John Catholic Church in Tipton she married Raymond Lee "Mick" Ortman. They shared 61 years of marriage before he passed on Nov. 18, 2014.

Betty graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Tipton in 1950. She became a Registered Nurse through St. Vincent School of Nursing in Indianapolis in 1953. She was co-owner of Kokomo Grain since 1953. Betty was a housewife, mother and nurse. For many years she laundered, ironed and maintained the priest's vestments and altar linens. Her priorities where her faith, husband, children and grandchildren and their spouses, and her home. We claimed she had "a hotline to Heaven," and often prayed to St. Anthony for intercession for lost items.

Betty was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kokomo, where she was active with the Altar & Rosary Society and the School Bus Association. She was also a member of the PEO, President's Council at Purdue and Altrusa. Betty enjoyed supporting anything for education and the church — St. Joseph Hospital, Ivy Tech, IUK, YMCA, YWCA and the Gilead House. On June 8, 1990, Betty received the Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Evan Bayh for her work as Chairman of Commission for Higher Education. She enjoyed doing crosswords, traveling, Purdue football and basketball, cheering Purdue to the Final Four, gardening, playing euchre and hand and foot. She was a huge supporter of her kids' and grandkids' sports and 4-H projects. One of her special activities was her love for modeling for several of our local women's clothing store, which she did into her mid 70s. Betty was known to occasionally enjoy an Appletini or Grey Goose Martini. She loved cardinals, angels and babies.

Betty is survived by her children, Dr. Cynthia (Christian) Meyer, Jeffery (Debra) Ortman, J. Bradley (Paula) Ortman, Dr. Gregory (Mindy) Ortman, Timothy (Nancy) Ortman, Scot (Lisa) Ortman and Zachary (Tina) Ortman; grandchildren, Jamie Ortman, Tracie (Ben) Sloss, Ben (Gwenlynn) Ortman, Alec Ortman, Benal Ortman, Nikki Ortman, Rachel (Nick) Reardon, Meggie (Geoff) Yovanovic, David Ortman, Victoria Ortman, Audrey Ortman, Cole Ortman, Brookelynn Ortman, Seth Ortman, Tyler Ortman (fiancé Caitlin), Hannah Ortman, Parker Ortman, Zachary Quinn and McKinzi (Tristin) Williamson; great-grandchildren, Ethan Sloss, Grace Sloss, Lily Sloss, Anna Reardon, Becket Yovanovic, Nathaniel Ortman and Graylin Williamson; step-granddaughters, Vennessa (Matthew) Rust and Marcia (Brandt) Gheen; step-great-grandchildren, Juniper Rust, Oscar Rust, Eirin Gheen, Charlotte Gheen and Gaige Gheen; siblings, Mary Lou Brauer, John "Dick" (Bobbi) Funke; brother-in-law, Norbert Tebbe; many nieces and nephews; special caregivers, Crystal Houston and Christina Rice; fireplace friends at University Place, and the friends throughout her life while in Kokomo and Tipton.

She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband, grandchildren, Karlee Rose Ortman and Jacob B. Ortman; sister, Patricia Tebbe; brothers, Jerome, Theodore and Donald; brothers-in-law, Virgil Scheidler, Paul Brauer; and Mick's sister; brothers; and spouses.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1229 N. Washington St., Kokomo. Burial will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, Kokomo, with the Nursing Honor Guard and Rosary starting at 1:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to IUK Elizabeth J. Ortman Nursing Scholarship, St. Patrick Catholic Church or Timmy Global Health. Messages of condolence may be made online at www.shirleyandstout.com.