Donald Mortensen
FAIRMONT — Memorial Service for Donald W. Mortensen, age 94, of Fairmont, Minn., will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the United Methodist Church in Fairmont. Those wishing to view a live stream of the service may do so at https://youtube.com/live/ThJXaGhSdHw?feature=share Inurnment will be in Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery in Fairmont at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1222. Donald passed away on Friday evening, January 19, 2024, at Heartland Senior Living in Truman, Minn. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
Donald Wayne Mortensen was born on September 25, 1929 to Adolph and Dina Mortensen in Dolliver, Iowa. He attended Swea City Public Schools in Swea City, Iowa and graduated from High School there. He was very active in sports including baseball, basketball, and band. Coincidentally, Don & Ivy met in the marching band. Don worked for his parents’ feed business, Mort-O-Dine Feed and Mortensen Case Implement business before attending Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. for two years.
Don loved stock car racing and secretly was trained by a family friend in his high school years. He continued to follow car racing in his life. He loved playing golf, watching sports, playing games including cards and cribbage. He loved and took pride in his family over the years.
Don served in the Air Force and in the Korean War from 1950 – 1954. He served in the honor guard for many years giving last military rites with the Martin County VFW.
On June 12, 1955 Don was united in marriage to Iva Lee Eastman at the Methodist Church in Armstrong, Iowa. Don & Ivy celebrated 68 years of marriage this year. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Scott, Mary, & Jeri.
Don began his career owning and operating Mortensen Implement, which sold Oliver farm equipment from 1955-1965. He then managed International Town & Country in Fairmont until 1978 and sold farm equipment for a few years after that. Don’s last much-loved career was at the Interlaken Golf Course as a groundskeeper and superintendent.
Don’s wife, Iva was employed as an elementary school teacher with a long career in the Fairmont Public Schools. Don & Ivy raised their family living in the same home here in Fairmont.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Iva Lee; children, Scott in Fairmont, Minn., Mary (Ric) Stewart of Worthington, Minn.and Jeri Jo (Jeff) Schaitel in West Salem, Wis.; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Lindsay, (Brad), Ella, Cason, Adalyn Van Voorst of Elk River, Minn.; Jonathan Mortensen and daughters, Olivia and Nina in Santiago, Chili, S. America; Aaron (Pauline), Noraa, LiLeena, Victor Schaitel of Holmen, Wis.; Andrew Stewart and his children, Rain, Forest, Lake Stewart in Cottage Grove, Minn.; Garrett (Jacky), Ray, Jeffrey Schaitel of Houston, Texas; Alexander (Hannah), Junia, Nina Stewart of Escondido, Calif.; Anna Mortensen and son, Mason of W. St. Paul, Minn.; sisters, Ida Mae Erickson of Fairmont, Minn. and Ruth Lazar of Phoenix, Ariz.; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Dina Hansen Mortensen; brothers, Dean, Vern, Ralph and Robert; sister, Irene Rhoda; father and mother-in-law, Lloyd & Gladys Eastman.