Fortney was born 2 January 37 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Raised in the Lutheran Church by a Chaplain and later Pastor father, in a military family that traveled extensively all over the United States in Army Posts, including residences in Germany and Austria. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Classics and Philosophy 1955, attended Luther Theological Seminary in St Paul, Minnesota for the 1960-61 term and then left. Was a newspaperman (adman, reporter, columnist and printer for four years. Married since 1960, has four children, nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild. Graduated from the School of Education in Madison and certified as a secondary teacher in 1964 and taught high school for 31 years; has lived in Stoughton, Wisconsin since 1961. Was a union negotiator for 25 years and became an alderman on Stoughton City Council 1976-1997 and for six years served as the Chief Negotiator for the city. Took initiation in the Buddhist tradition from the Dalai Lama in 1981 and again in 1986. Experienced a naming ceremony in the Zen tradition at Fukujuji Temple, with Priest Sokyu Hashimoto, in Miharu, Japan in 1992. Took early retirement in 1995 to devote full time to writing. He has published poems in many magazines and anthologies.