Virginia Lee Mortensen

Virginia Lee Mortensen, the daughter of Gordon and Lela (Bristol) Dent, was born September 25, 1922, on her parents’ farm, the 1st place west of Fiscus, Iowa in Shelby County and died November 4, 2017, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa at the age of 95 years, 1 month, and 9 days.

Virginia accepted Christ as her personal Savior as a teen and was baptized at the Harlan Church of Christ and attended Redline Church of Christ. She attended rural school in Shelby County Polk #6 then attended high school in Harlan graduating with the High School class of 1940. She then taught rural school for a short time.

On May 31, 1941, she was united in marriage to LeRoy Mortensen in Kansas City, Missouri. They operated LeRoy’s family farm which they later purchased. During this time they were blessed with three children Robert, Carol, and Richard. They grew row crops and raised livestock until they retired. Virginia loved being a homemaker and enjoyed her family and friends. LeRoy died October 11, 2002. Virginia lived on the farm until she was faced with health issues. Her sons Robert and Richard lived with her full time alternating each week for nearly a year. On October 2, 2017, she moved to the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn.

Virginia was a member of the Redline Church of Christ in Redline and a member of a neighborhood birthday club. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and counted cross stich. She loved her family so much - that was her greatest joy.

Preceding her in death were her husband LeRoy H. Mortensen; granddaughter Tanya Lee Mortensen-Irlmeier; her parents; sister Norma and husband Sam Lambert; brothers-in-law: Elmer and wife Lorene Mortensen, Earl and wife Mildred Mortensen.

Survivors include her children: Robert and wife Janet Mortensen of Oakland, Iowa, Carol and husband Dexter Anderson of Austin, Texas, Richard and wife Nadine Mortensen of Audubon, Iowa; grandchildren: Shelli Mortensen of Harlan, Iowa, Cynthia and husband Bradley Stonacek of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, Jennifer and husband John Hall of Elk Horn, Nebraska, Eric Mortensen of New York, New York, David Anderson and fiancé Jennifer of Austin, Texas, Dan and wife Keri Mortensen of Cambridge, Iowa; 7 great grandchildren; sister Joyce and husband Phil Daringer of Kirkman, Iowa; nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Sam Jacobs on Wednesday afternoon, November 8, 2017, at 2:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. The family will meet with friends Wednesday from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be David Anderson, Cynthia Stonacek, Dan Mortensen, Jennifer Hall, Craig Daringer, and Douglas Daringer.