Mortensen, Margaret (1923-2013)

MORTENSEN, MICHAEL, CAMPBELL, ROSS, FERGUSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/24/2013 at 18:44:10

Margaret Mortensen
July 1, 1923 - September 16, 2013

Alta

Margaret Mortensen, age 90, of Alta, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2013, in Alta.

Born on July 1, 1923, on the family farm near Westfield, Iowa, to Earl and Etti (Campbell) Michael, Mary (Margaret) Mortensen was baptized and confirmed at the Westfield Congregational United Church of Christ. She attended school in Westfield, graduating in the class of 1940. Before completing her degree at Buena Vista College, she, also, attended Iowa State Teachers College and Westmar College.

In 1947, Margaret married Paul C. Mortensen. They made their home in rural Alta, where Paul farmed and Margaret taught school. Mrs. Mortensen taught at both Fairview and Alta. She often said she never met a child she didn’t enjoy helping. She taught every elementary grade and especially loved science lessons. Believing in allowing her students to experiment, she provided lots of “hands on” experiences in her classroom. Margaret was also known for her garden and the vegetables she preserved. She loved to cook and often passed her recipes on to others. Her husband, Paul, passed away on March 11, 1997.

A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Alta, Margaret belonged to the Lydia Circle and the Presbyterian Women. She taught both Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. When asked if she would be willing to teach Sunday School, she, a true teacher, would reply, “If I can’t teach the children about the Lord on Sunday, the other five school days aren’t as important, are they?” In addition, she sang in the choir and was always happy when members of her family filled the entire pew. She felt honored to organize the first alumni banquets for both the Fairview and Highview Schools held in her church.

Margaret belonged to many educational organizations, Delta Kappa Gamma (key women educators), PEO, the Nokomis Study Club, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She loved to read and collect bells and tea sets.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brother, Robert Michael; her parents-in-law, William and Carrie Mortensen; her sister and brother-in-law, Vera and Virgil Ross; her brother-in-law, Johnny Ferguson; her sister- and brother-in-law, Wilna and Bernie Johnson; her sister-in-law, Eunice Mortensen; and her brother- and sister-in-law, Keith (Pep) and Annie Mortensen.

Margaret is survived by her sons, Doug (Ida) Mortensen, of Forsyth, Illinois, and Dave (Deb) Mortensen, of Alta; her grandchildren, Brandon (Natalie), of Southlake, Texas, and Kristin (Jeff Tertel), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; her great-grandchildren, (who fondly called her “Purple” Grandma), Amanda and James Mortensen, of Southlake, Texas; her sister, Gertrude Ferguson, of Wichita Falls, Texas, her sister-in-law, Elaine Michael, of Akron, Iowa; and her brother-in-law, Ray Mortensen, of Alta; as well as by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2013, at 10:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Alta with the Rev. Craig T.M. Lee officiating. A private family burial will be held at the Scandinavian Cemetery of Alta. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2013, from 5:00– 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Alta.

Memorials can be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Alta or the Midwest Christian Children’s Home of rural Peterson.

Copyright © 2013, Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Homes

Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Homes
 

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