February 6, 2018

Linn County News

Published Feb. 7, 2018

Mildred Katie Bortzfield, age 86, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, at Pinnacle Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation, Olathe, Kan. She was born on Oct. 26, 1931, in Fulton, Kan., the daughter of Robert and Hazel Wurtz Clendening. 

She married LeRoy Bortzfield on June 8, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He preceded her in death on Dec. 31, 1986.

She later married Curtis Owenby on Aug. 31, 1988. He preceded her in death on Nov. 15, 2016. 

Katie worked in her early years for the telephone company. She later worked for Braemoor coat factory in Pleasanton. She then worked for Western Insurance Co. in Fort Scott, Kan., until her retirement. 

She was an avid hunter and fisherman. She also enjoyed bowling and attending Pickers and Fiddlers. 

She was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Vickie Zugelder, Kansas City, Mo.; a son, Rick Bortzfield and wife Robin, Pleasanton; five grandchildren, Chris Zugelder, Riki Barr, Eric Zugelder, Rylan Bortzfield, and Griffin Bortzfield; four great grandchildren, Nicolas, Mackenzie, Alyssa and Zander; a sister, Elenora Courtois, Pleasanton; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Besides both husbands, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Bill, Cecil, Frank and John Clendening; two sisters, Dorothy Nichols and Rosemary Ward; and her parents.

Pastor Tom Mullins will conduct funeral services at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott. Burial will follow in the West Liberty Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. 

Memorials are suggested to Good Shepherd Hospice and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.