Belva Ann Ortego was born August 21, 1939, in Ville Platte, Louisiana, to Edgar and Annie Ortego. She graduated from Ville Platte High at age 16 and soon after received a certification of education from a business college in Baton Rouge. One of her most memorable accomplishments is receiving Female Athlete of the Year for her high school basketball senior season.
Belva met and married Kent L. Kerstetter in 1957. They had five children, Nadine, Kent Jr., Katrina, Kyle, and Monica. As a family , they enjoyed camping and traveling through many states, stopping at every “museum” sign and many state parks. Belva took the wheel just as frequently as Kent , who would log the miles, calculate gas mileage, and plot their course on a well-used road atlas. When they were not on a camping trip or visiting a new state, they would make a pilgrimage to Louisiana and visit family and friends.
While raising her five children, Belva took the time to support and coach each child through their various sports and academic accomplishments. If she did not understand the sport , she would educate herself , and her children always heard her on the sidelines. While raising her children, she was always willing to take in their friends and anyone else who needed a hand and a hug.
After the children were on their own, her and Kent’s love for travel and shared curiosity for new places propelled them out of the station wagon and onto cruise ships with tours of Alaska, Europe, South Korea, and beyond. At home in Idaho, piles of paperback books and toe-tapping music filled their lives while they planned their next adventure together .
Before her well-deserved retirement, Belva worked as a workers’ compensation claims adjuster in Arizona, and as a paralegal in various law firms. She enjoyed her work as a paralegal best and had an interest in the law. Her shorthand and typing skills were unparalleled as were her perceptiveness, sharp wit, and intelligence.
After leading her family through the painful passing of their beloved patriarch in 2012, Belva was blessed with a second chance for happiness. She met Lee Kaylor and they joined their lives together in a commitment ceremony in September 2015. This union grew the family even more, blending Lee’s and her children and grandchildren. Her family was blessed by this union, and is deeply thankful for Lee and his family bringing love and laughter back into Belva’s life.
Belva leaves behind 7 children, 19 gorgeous grandchildren, and 23 terrific great-grandchildren, all with their own special and distinct memories of their MaMa’s fierce and loyal love. She is predeceased by her sister Getta and survived by her siblings Tony, Wanda, and Gary and their loving families. Belva welcomed blended families as her own and relished the joy of boisterous family time spent devouring great food, sharing hilarious stories, and reflecting on both the challenges and the wonders of life.
Admirably, Belva was unapologetically herself right up through her peaceful passing on March 26, 2023. Her family will strive to embody and pass along her perseverance and strength. And they will forever hear her soul-filled laughter as they attempt to come close to replicating her delicious and life-affirming gumbo.
The family will hold a celebration of Belva’s life on April 14 th 1 pm at 7000 Bunch Court
Boise, ID 83714. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to KORU Mulitcultural and Diverse Library to honor Belva’s unquenchable love of reading and never-ending commitment to learning and personal growth.