Clarabelle Ortmann, 86, Minot, died Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in her home.

Clarabelle was born February 24, 1933 near Bowdon, ND to Ernest and Lydia (Heinle) Baltrusch. She grew up in rural ND attending country schools until entering a supervised study program in Fargo, ND, where she completed her high school education. Clarabelle attended Valley City State University and following two years of study earned a standard teaching certificate.

She spent the first couple years of her teaching career in the setting of her youth, between rural Bowdon, ND and Berlin Township #3 rural school of Sheridan County, ND. She called the community of Courtenay, ND home for the next five years until joining the public school system in Jamestown, ND.

Clarabelle was united in marriage to David Ortmann on December 23, 1962 in Bowdon, ND. They lived in rural Max and Fargo until moving to Minot in July of 1965. This union was blessed with three children, many loving memories and forty-five years of marriage. David passed away June 9, 2008.

Clarabelle was a member of Calvary Alliance Church in Minot. She was active as a Sunday School Teacher and also served as treasurer of the Calvary Alliance Women. She blessed her family with the gifts of her baking and had gifted hundreds of quilts with bright colors and patterns to family and friends. Some of her favorite treats were chocolate, caramel rolls and bacon, all of which contributed to her longevity on this earth of course. She enjoyed reading when she found the time apart from her calling as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

We will be forever thankful for the care provided to our mom by the staff of the Wellington Assisted Living. We would also like to express our gratitude to Valorie Keeney for supporting Clarabelle weekly with visits for the last two and a half years. We are eternally grateful for your friendship with our mom.

She is survived by her children Daniel (Wanda) Ortmann, St. Paul, MN; Donald (Pamela) Ortmann, Minot, ND; Charlotte 'Cherie' (Joe) Korner, Burlington, ND; grandchildren Ashley Korner, Burlington, ND and Austin Ortmann, Champaign, IL; siblings: Jerome Baltrusch, Garrison MN; Varnal (Cheryl) Baltrusch, Tucson, AZ; Betty Oien, Moline, IL; sister-in-law Dorothy Baltrusch of Harvey, ND and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Clarabelle was preceded in death by her parents, husband David, brother Donald Baltrusch and sister Ilene 'May' Ortmann.

Celebration of Clarabelle's Life: 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 10, 2020 at Calvary Alliance Church, Minot, ND
Interment: Church of God Cemetery, rural Benedict, ND, later in the Spring 2020
Visitation: Sunday, February 9, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials are preferred to Calvary Alliance Building Fund.

Clarabelle Ortmann Flower Pictures