Marie Ann Bortner, 89, passed away May 18, 2018, at Linden Court, with her family by her side.

Aunt, mother, grandmother, wife, mother-in-law, Marie was born March 7, 1929, in Weston, the youngest daughter of Joseph and Mary Pribyl.

Marie lived most of her life in Keith and Lincoln counties. She was a unique interpretation of the honorable American rural lifestyle. She found ranching at an early age and her favorite spot in the world was riding her 4-wheeler, fixing barbed wire fence, spending hours on her John Deere B and farmhand tractor, raking and cutting hay. She loved feeding cattle, caring for her chickens and cooking, especially food from her garden and for crowds. Marie cared deeply about the land and its preservation and was active in her support of both.


She was married to Don Bortner for 41 years until his death in 2005.

Her home was her castle, and her door was always open to welcome in family, friends and neighbors. She now joins her three brothers and two sisters whom she has missed terribly through the years. Marie was the family historian. She loved telling stories of the goings on of her ancestors and living family members throughout many generations. The many stories about the episodes in her life were so unique, they can only be told, not written. Oh my, will she be missed.

She is preceded in death by three brothers, Joe, Louie and Ed; two sisters, Georgia and Ann; her first husband, Charles J. Linderman; one niece; and three nephews.


Marie is survived by her two children, Jake and Paulette; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a small celebration of her life and the joy she brought to her family and close friends later this summer. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family.