Obituary of Lila Mae Sortor

Lila Mae Toburen was born on September 28, 1923, in Ida, Michigan. She was one of seven children born to Elmer and Tillie (Strabel) Toburen. Lila graduated from Dundee High School in Dundee, Michigan with the Class of 1941. She proudly served her country with the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services, or “WAVES”, the women’s branch of the United States Navel Reserves while stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas. Lila worked in several positions at the Willow Run bomber plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan during the “Rosie the Riveter” campaign. She also fulfilled her civic duty as an election inspector with the Board of Elections.

Lila was joined in marriage to Gerald Sortor at First Congregational Church in Dundee on May 17, 1947. The couple were blessed with a son and two daughters. In addition to caring for her family, Lila was employed at the United States Postal Service and as a clerk at several banks including Monroe Bank and Trust. Lila was a talented seamstress. She enjoyed painting and was active with the Dundee Art League. Lila also participated in the leagues at the bowling alley in Dundee and served as Secretary for her Thursday morning golf league for thirty-seven years.

A devout Christian, Lila served as Treasurer of First Presbyterian Church in Dundee for twenty-five years and of the Interfaith Church Council for fourteen years. Not one to stay idle, Lila volunteered herself for any charitable cause. She often offered her time to the Sharing and Caring food and clothing bank at Dundee United Methodist Church.

Lila Mae Sortor, age 100, of Dundee, Michigan passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Hampton Manor Assisted Living in Dundee. In addition to her parents and her husband: Gerald Sortor, Lila’s passing was preceded by her son: Steven Sortor; her sister: Alice Rehberg; and five brothers: Chuck, Fritz, Clyde, Jim, and Erwin Toburen.

Left to cherish her memory are her two daughters: Pamela (Thomas) Price of Clinton, Michigan and Jill (Peter) Loughney of Petersburg, Michigan; five grandchildren: Tracy Sortor of Dundee, Dana (Donald) Long of Ottawa Lake, Michigan, Tammi (Bob) Weinberg of Adrian, Michigan, Tina (Jay) Oetjens of Lexington, North Carolina, and Eric Sortor (Mary Holmes) of Dexter, Michigan; eleven great grandchildren: Collin Poore, Noah Poore, Aubrey Vires, Brayden Vires, Kyle Oetjens, Kayleen Oetjens, Karter Oetjens, Owen Sortor, Olivia Sortor, Eleanor Saah, and Emerson Saah; and two great-great granddaughters: Lydia Creech and Daphne Creech.  

Friends may gather from 2:00 to 4:00pm and from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Monday, January 29, 2024 at Merkle Funeral Service, Dundee; 297 Tecumseh Street, Dundee, Michigan 48131 (734)529-3156. Lila will lie in state from 10:00am until a Worship Service celebrating her life at 11:00am on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at Dundee United Methodist Church; 645 Franklin Street, Dundee, Michigan 48131. A procession to Maple Grove Cemetery, Dundee for burial will follow with military honors provided under the auspices of the Dundee Veteran’s Memorial Honor Guard.

Memorial donations in honor of Lila may be directed to the Sharing and Caring food bank c/o Dundee United Methodist Church. Online guests may leave words of comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com