LeRoy Harry Ortman

LeRoy Harry Ortman, 76, of Bella Vista, Arkansas died September 14, 2015 at Circle of Life Hospice - Legacy Village in Bentonville, Arkansas after a short battle with lung cancer. LeRoy Harry Ortman was born October 10, 1938, to Andrew and Rose (Dick) Ortman in Marion, South Dakota. He attended Marion, South Dakota High School and received a bachelor's degree in education administration from Southern State College in Springfield, S.D. in 1959. He attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and received his master's in education in 1962 and his specialist in educational administration in 1966. He was a lifelong Nebraska Cornhusker. LeRoy taught business education and English classes in Wausa, Nebraska 1959-1961 and in Ainsworth, Nebraska from 1962-1964. He then became the youngest Superintendent of Schools in the state of Nebraska at age twenty five and served as a School Superintendent for 42 years in Nebraska, Iowa and Arkansas; 1964-1966 at Keya Paha County Nebraska High School, Battle Creek, Iowa Community Schools 1966-1987, Cumberland & Massena, Iowa Community Schools 1987-1995, Gravette, Arkansas Community Schools 1995-2005. In 2008 to 2010 he was called out of retirement and appointed by the State of Arkansas to run the Decatur, Arkansas Public Schools. He was a hardworking, respected, dedicated and beloved educator. He was known as a school finance expert and he loved all of his school's students, staff, and communities where he served as an educator and school leader. LeRoy served in many roles for the School Administrators of Iowa and the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. He was an active church and community volunteer his entire life. He enjoyed yard work, reading, word puzzles, and playing cards with family and friends. He was a teacher, role model, mentor and friend to many. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Wallace, a brother Marvin, a brother in-law Arnie Becker and infant grandson, Ryan Ortman. Grateful for having shared his life are his loving wife, Nancy; LeRoys's children, David Ortman of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Don Ortman of Rock Valley, Iowa and Suzie (Mark) Ortman-Priebe of Gravette, Arkansas; Nancy's son Mark (Heather) Wilson of West Des Moines, Iowa, and daughter Lori (Chad) Van Cleave of Columbus, Nebraska. His beloved grandchildren; Breah Ortman, Andrew Ortman, Blake Ortman, Emily Van Cleave, Isabella Wilson, Adam Van Cleave, Eliza Wilson, Harry Wilson and Colton Ortman-Priebe. His older brothers and sister and in-laws in South Dakota; Harvey and Lorraine Ortman, Edna Mae Ortman, Alvin and Arlyss Ortman and Edna Becker, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, September 17, 2015 at the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista, 1880 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Arkansas. Rev. Dennis Ritchie and Rev. Liz Wagner will officiate. Memorials may be made to Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch, 296 Boys Ranch Rd, Lampe, Mo. 65681 or the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Arkansas.