Alice Elina Mortensen

Alice Elina Mortensen, the daughter of Chris and Annie Mortensen Wiges was born June 27, 1912, at her grandparents home in Hamlin, Iowa. Alice was named for her Aunt Alice who had perished in a fire a few years before her birth. Alice passed from this world into the arms of her Lord on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa at the age 97 years and 11 months.
Alice was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She was raised on a farm and attended several rural schools graduating from the eighth grade. Alice was employed as a waitress at the Hamburger Shop in Audubon, Iowa for a short time then worked as a housekeeper/ nanny for families in the Audubon and Harlan areas. Years later she worked at the Salem Lutheran Homes as an aide and also a cook.
On March 15, 1936, she was united in marriage to George Mortensen at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. Three daughters Brenda Anne, Margo Elaine, and Rosemary Alice were born to this union. Alice and George moved to rural Elk Horn where they lived their entire married life. George died in 2004. Shortly after Georges death, Alice moved to the Allen House in Atlantic, Iowa where she resided until March of 2010 when she moved to the Heritage House in Atlantic.
Alice had been a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church since 1936. She was a faithful supporter holding various offices in the Ladies Aid and Circles. Alice was also active and held offices in the Shelby County Porketts. Alice enjoyed cooking and baking, crocheting, sewing, reading and taking care of her family. Family was very important to both Alice and George and together they created a home filled with love, faith and honesty.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband George were her parents Chris and Annie Wiges; her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Hans and Anna Mortensen, her brothers; Earl and wife Edith Wiges, Leonard and wife Lucille Wiges, her brother-in-law: Nickoli and his wife Ethel Mortensen and a sister-in-law: Katherine and husband Harry Knudsen.
Survivors include her three daughters: Brenda and husband Ron Swope of Atlantic, Iowa, Margo and husband Eldon Larsen of Elk Horn, Iowa and Rosemary and husband Donald Matthiessen of Sterling, Illinois; her grandchildren: Melissa (Bill) Ihnen of Wiota, Iowa, Marcy (Dan) Dorsey of Anita, Iowa, Chris (Crystal) Schroder of Atlantic, Michelle (Scott) Woolsey of Atlantic, Sarah Larsen of Story City, Iowa, George (Kaitlyn) Matthiessen of North Carolina, Robert Matthiessen of Sterling, Illinois, Amy (Jim) Morrison of California; her great grandchildren: Cody and Casey Ihnen, Taylor and Emma Dorsey, Daniel, Kymberlee and Claire Schroder, Cooper Woolsey and Addilyn Larsen; her four step great grandchildren: Grace Clay, Kydie Woolsey, Connor Jeffreys, and Ryan Maier; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The casket bearers will be Melissa Ihnen, Marcy Jo Dorsey, Chris Schroder, Michelle Woolsey, Sarah Larsen, George Matthiessen, Robert Matthiessen, and Amy Morrison.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery in Elk Horn.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Keith Menter on Tuesday, June 1 2010, at 2:00 P.M. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa.