Nancy Bertram-Ford

Nancy Joan Bertram-Ford, 86, passed away Thursday, December 5, 2024. Services celebrating Nancy's life will be on Tuesday, December 10, at the Cozine Life Events Center with viewing beginning at 10:00am, service at 10:30am, and burial at Old Mission Cemetery at 1:00pm. There will be a reception between the service and burial. Nancy is survived by daughter, Kim (Edwin) Kloster; sister, Beverly Whitaker, brother, David Christy, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by husbands, Arlen Bertram and Jay Ford; and two granddaughters, Rebecca and Aimee Kloster.

Nancy was the first child of Orval and Dorothy Christy and was born at home on a farm in Kaseyville, Missouri. Her sister, Beverly, was born two years later, and six years later a little brother named David came along. She grew up on a farm in northeast Missouri outside of Atlanta, Missouri. Her parents paid tuition for her to ride a bus into Atlanta to the first grade and she graduated from the same school in 1956. Nancy loved sports, and played girls basketball throughout junior and senior high. She worked at a little restaurant from 8th grade on during noon hour as they did not have hot lunches at school. She always said she went back to school every day smelling like a hamburger.

After graduating in 1956, she married the superintendent's son, Arlen Bertram. They lived in a 28-foot mobile home and both worked at McGraw Edison in Macon, Missouri. In 1957 they lived in their 35-foot motor home, and moved to Wichita with new daughter, Kim, as Arlen had employment with the Boeing Company which he stayed for 35 years. Nancy also went to work at Beech, and became a bookkeeper before computers were so popular, so most of her work was done manually. She always gave more than 100% on her jobs, and after taking computer classes later in life at the vocational college. When she retired in 1992, she said her last job with the Boeing Company was the easiest one of her life. Nancy was active in various civic organizations, and was past president of her Gamma Sigma sorority, a member of the national accounting association, business & professional women, and was an active member of Central Christian Church. She served on staff at Central Christian during the expansion years of moving from downtown. She also served on a political campaign for a neighbor, Dave Unruh. Her home was always open to entertain, and she hosted several bible studies there. She served on her HOA board and made homemade ice cream for the neighborhood 4th of July celebrations.

After Arlen died suddenly in 1999, Nancy went back to her high school reunion in 2000 and reunited with a friend who had also lost his spouse. In 2002, she and Jay Ford were married in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2008 and passed away in 2017. They enjoyed WSU basketball and held season tickets until he got sick. They traveled by bus to places neither one had ever been and enjoyed going back to Iowa to visit family. They also enjoyed going to Moberly, Missouri where Jay had a cabin and favorite fishing spot.

Nancy was a strong Christian lady and loved the Lord with all her heart. She always strived to live up to Proverbs 31.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with:

Victory in the Valley
3755 E. Douglas Ave.
Wichita, KS 67218

Interim Home Health and Hospice
9920 E. Harry St.
Wichita, KS 67207