Julie Bortnem

Julie Bortnem died on February 10th, 2014 in her Arvada, Colorado home. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.
Julie Ann Fields was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on February, 11th, 1954 to Glen and Joann Fields. Julie and her five brothers grew up in Dell Rapids, South Dakota where she met David Bortnem. In December 1973, Julie and Dave were married. Julie graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Home Economics. After several years living in San Antonio with her husband and two sons, the family moved to Colorado. It was here that she would become one of the founding members of the Ralston Creek Sertoma Club. During her life, Julie amazed and delighted her friends with her culinary skills, often using ingredients from her own well-tended, organic garden and her abilities as a seamstress. Julie was selfless, generous, and nurturing and would lend her time, talents, energy, and compassion to both family and friends with no expectation of recognition. It was evident to all that met her that her true joy was found in taking care of her family, the definition of which was never limited to bloodline. Throughout their forty years of marriage, Dave was rarely far from Julie's side. Together they enjoyed travelling, gardening, spending time with family and friends, and, most of all, spoiling their four grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, David; two sons, Craig Kelley Bortnem of Minneapolis, MN, and Travis Melissa Bortnem of Arvada, Colorado; four grandchildren, Cara, Aidan, Connor and Collin; mother, Joann Fields; five brothers, Gary, Bob, Brad, Mark and Kevin; as well as many other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Glen Fields.

Private interment was held at Fort Logan in Colorado. A celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, March 29 from 1-4pm at the American Legion in Dell Rapids, South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are made to The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research http://www.lustgarten.org/ or to Ralston Creek Sertoma at 11150 HURON St., No 100, Northglenn, CO 80234 where they will be directed to the club's primary charities.