BETTY J. ORTEGA (nee James)

Age 93 of Maplewood, Minnesota
Formerly of Burke, Virginia

Betty was born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 25, 1922 to Marie (nee Spangler) and Edwin James. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and went on to graduate from the University of Maryland’s School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. She became an army nurse and was stationed at Camp Pickett in Virginia. In 1943, she met and fell madly in love with a Strategic Intelligence Officer from Las Vegas, New Mexico named Lieutenant Carlos J. Ortega. They had a happy and loving marriage for 63 years and raised three wonderful children together in Virginia.

Betty was a surgical nurse for many years and took time to raise her family and support her husband. She later went back to work at the National Institute of Health (NIH). Throughout her life, she supported Carlos’ very successful career with the US Department of Agriculture, both as a Foreign Training Officer and later as an Agricultural Attache in Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru. She was very proud when Carlos was appointed to the US Foreign Service by President Reagan in 1984. Being proud of his cultural heritage, Carlos was a founding member of the USDA chapter of Hispanic Americans for Cultural Excellence (HACE) and both Betty and he served in the Foreign Agricultural Service retiree’s organization.

Betty loved to spend her free time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her family was the most important thing to her. She also enjoyed working in her flower garden, and dancing to big band music with Carlos in the kitchen.

Betty passed away on March 10, 2016 while at Ramsey County Care Center in Maplewood, Minnesota. She is preceded in death by her parents, Marie and Edwin James; her husband, Carlos; and her brother, Edwin Jr. “Jimmy” James. She will be dearly missed by her three children, Elizabeth Aleman of Springfield, VA, Amelia “Amy” (Mark Johnson) Ortega of Shoreview, MN, and Dr. Richard (Shahla) Ortega of Columbia, MD; her four grandchildren, David (Jessica) Wiltsee, Chris (Heidi) Wiltsee, Philip Wiltsee, and Rachel Aleman; her dear great-grandchildren, Carlos Wiltsee, August Wiltsee, and Eva Wiltsee; one great-grandchild to be, Ethan Wiltsee; her sister-in-laws, Ellen James, Amelia Foster, and Diane Ortega; and many other family and friends.

There will be a gathering for friends and family from 2:30-3:30 PM on Friday, March 18th, 2016 at Ramsey County Care Center, 2000 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood. A private interment with military honors will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a later date.