Charles Harvey Mortenson, 78
Charles Harvey Mortenson, 78, of Kennedy, Minn., passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 29, 2022.
Charles was born to Herbert and Helen (Warnes) Mortenson in Hallock, Minn., on Jan. 25, 1944. He was baptized and confirmed at Red River Lutheran Church and grew up in Svea Township of Kittson County.
Charles graduated from Kennedy High School in 1962. He briefly attended Moorhead State University, and then enlisted in the National Guard. When his father passed away in 1967, he came home to farm with his brother, Peter.
He met Jan Hattermann at a party in Minneapolis in 1968. They got married in Germantown, Iowa, on Nov. 21, 1970. They lived on the home farm by Kennedy until 1975 when they built the house at their current residence in Skane Township. They started a family with Jeffrey Charles on March 21, 1973, followed by Christopher Lee on Aug. 14, 1975, and Janelle Marie on April 25, 1983.
When Peter retired farming in 1997, Charles continued with his sons, Jeffrey and Christopher, until Charles retired at age 62, but he continued to help on the farm right up until he passed away.
He enjoyed fishing, driving his pickup, visiting with friends and time spent with his kids and grandkids. He was especially proud to be a grandpa and loved talking about his grandchildren.
Charles was a life-long member of Red River Lutheran Church. He served on the Skane Township Board, Kittson Marshal Rural Water Board and the Red River Cemetery Board.
He is survived by: his wife, Jan, of 51 years; his sons, Jeffrey (Traci) Mortenson, and Christopher (Crisa) Mortenson, and daughter Janelle (Erik) Lindegard; grandchildren, Dawson Mortenson, Ava, Hogan and Vayle Mortenson, Marcus and Hayley Lindegard; his sister, Diane Brettingen of Grand Forks, N.D.; brother Dean Mortenson of Kennedy; sister-in-law, Doris Mortenson, Kennedy; brothers-in-law, Walt Lizakowski of Princeton Minn., and Jim (Judy) Hattermann of Germantown; sisters-in-law Dorothy Johnson of Sioux City, Iowa, Pat (Fred) Dexter of Venice Fla., and Marlene Thompson of Hoschton, Ga.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Charles is preceded in death by: his parents, Herbert and Helen; brother, Peter Mortenson; sister, Sondra Lizakowski; father and mother-in-law, Clarence and Orphie Hattermann; brothers-in-law, Donald Hattermann, John Hattermann and Terry Johnson; and sister-in-law, Diana Hattermann.
Funeral service for Charles is at Red River Lutheran Church, rural Kennedy, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, at 2 p.m. with a visitation one hour beforehand. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Austin Funeral Chapel, Hallock, was in charge of the arrangements. www. austinfuneralchapel.com.
