Velma Mae "Fertig" Root

Velma (Fertig) Root was born on August 2, 1935 in Hillsboro, Kansas, and grew up on a farm near the small farming community of Radium, in central Kansas. She was born into what today would be called a "blended family". Her father, Roy Fertig, was a farmer who found himself widowed in 1928 with five children, Carl, Lorene, Irene, Betty June, and baby Mary Lou, then just one year old.
Roy met and married his second wife, Ella Jost of Hillsboro, in 1934, and Velma would become the oldest of three more children, including her younger brothers Stan and Ray. Velma would remain close with all of her family, with special connection to Betty June and Mary Lou, who helped to care for her when she was little.
Velma was was born in an era of strong traditional gender roles, and she spoke often about supporting her family by helping her Mom and sisters with cooking and cleaning, laundry and mending, while her brothers helped outside with innumerable farming tasks such as planting, harvesting, and caring for animals. She rarely expressing resentment for this division of work, but rather seemed to embrace a sense of purpose derived from of service to others, which would define much of her life.
Velma's family remained on the farm as she grew up, and she attended grade school and high school in Radium, following in her siblings' footsteps. She was one of thirteen proud members of the Radium High School Senior class of 1953. Velma's faith was also a large part of her life, and she attended Radium United Methodist Church regularly with her family growing up.
After graduation, Velma enrolled in the Grace Hospital School of Nursing in Hutchinson, Kansas, where she received her nursing diploma in 1956. After graduation, Velma decided to follow sister Mary Lou, who was a United States Air Force nurse. Velma was able to get work as a civilian nurse in several different locations where Mary Lou was stationed, including New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama.
It was in Mobile where she met Ed Root, native of the Portland, Oregon area, and they were married in the fall of 1959 at the Methodist Church in Radium. What followed was a whirlwind of long distance moves as Ed, an electrical engineer, progressed through a series of different engineering jobs. They welcomed their first child, Mary (Root) Perez, in Montgomery, Alabama in 1960, followed by a son, Robert, born in Moses Lake, Washington in 1962.
Also in 1962, they moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico, when Ed took a job at Holloman Air Force Base. Alamogordo would be home for the next ten years. While there, Velma was blessed to find a life-long best friend in next-door neighbor Sandy Bond. Mary and Rob have fond memories of playing with the Bond kids at one house, while all the parents enjoyed time away from kids in the house next door. Velma continued to work part time as an
obstetrics nurse, and Mary and Rob recall a steady diet of Ed's pancakes on Saturday mornings, when Mom was at work. A third child, John, was born in Alamogordo in 1968.
In 1972, Ed would accept employment at Kirtland Air Force Base, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Velma took a job as a nurse at Lovelace Medical Center (featured in the movie, The Right Stuff, as the hospital where the seven Mercury Astronauts were tested). Velma would eventually become Head Nurse of the Oncology Ward, often caring for terminally ill patients. While this work was emotionally challenging, Velma always felt that it was very important.
Velma and Ed would divorce in 1985, though they have remained friends. Like many women of her generation, Velma was forced to confront huge societal change in gender roles, and in many ways, she blossomed because of it.
After retirement, the remainder of Velma's life was dedicated to family and friends. She attended church regularly where she sang in the choir for a while, but the activity that seemed to bring her the most joy was interacting with grandkids and eventually great grandchildren. She was able to live independently until the last years of her life, thereafter enjoying meticulous care from daughter Mary and her husband, Larry. Velma passed away peacefully on the 12th of January, 2026 at age 90.
She was proceeded in death by her parents Roy and Ella, all of her older half-siblings Carl, Irene, Lorene, Betty June, and Mary Lou, and best friend Sandy Bond. She is survived by Ed Root, younger brothers Stan and Ray Fertig, children Mary (a nurse) and husband Larry Perez of Albuquerque, Rob and wife Lynn Root and John and wife Joey Root, of Seattle, as well as eleven grandchildren (two of whom are nurses!) nine great grandchildren and numerous close friends in the Albuquerque area. She will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at Covenant United Methodist Church, 8510 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 2: 30 pm. There will be an additional service and burial at Point View Cemetery, near Larned, KS, in late March.
Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com