Ivan Mortensen

Ivan  Mortensen, 91, of Curtis, Nebraska, died May 4, 2017 at Linden Court in North Platte, NE.

Ivan Reuben Mortensen was born July 19, 1925 to Peter and Alice(Olson) Mortensen nine miles north of Curtis, NE at his parents home in southern Lincoln County.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, and attended Pleasant Home school through eighth grade.  He graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture in 1942.  After attending The University of Nebraska in Lincoln, he returned to his parents farm and spent the remainder of his life on the family farm.

Ivan was united in marriage to Monine Elizabeth Shaffer in 1950.  Together they were blessed with five children.

Ivan was community oriented and served on the church board, District 75 school board, Farm Bureau, Curtis Co-op, and Curtis Telephone Company.  He was a 4-H leader for many years.

Ivan loved his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He enjoyed the life of farming and ranching and it was his desire to leave the land in a more productive state each year. He was instrumental in new farming practices throughout his life.  The family farm was awarded the Aksarben centennial award  in 1993.  In later years he and Monine traveled extensively.  At the age of 91 he shot his first bull elk and became known as the Happy Hunter.

Ivan is survived by his children David (Colleen) Mortensen, Linda (Mick) Glaze, Jane (Gene) Burton, Allan (Kim) Mortensen, and Sandra (Pat) Messersmith, 15 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, two sisters Helen Nelson, Curtis, and Harriet Lipe, Lincoln, one brother-in-law George (Marilou) Shaffer, New Mexico, and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, infant sister, and infant grandson.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Curtis, Nebraska; Monday, May 8, 2017, 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm with the family present from 5:00-7:00 pm.

Services will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Curtis, NE, Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 10:30 am with Rev. Derrick Brown officiating.

Burial will follow in the Curtis Cemetery, Curtis, Nebraska.

Memorials may be given to the Frontier County Ambulance, PO Box 443, Curtis, NE 69025.