Richard Mortenson, 62

Richard Peter Mortenson, 62, of Monticello, formerly of Kennedy, passed away peacefully at home Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, after a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Richard was born on May 24, 1963, to Peter and Doris Mortenson. He was raised on the family farm and graduated as a “Rocket” from Kennedy High School in 1981. He attended NDSU in Fargo and graduated from University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Richard married Shannon Locken on Aug. 31, 1991, and they had two children, Paige and JP.
Richard was part owner of D & D Commodities and then went to UND and passed the test to become a certified public accountant. He had a partnership firm with Wally Rygh for a number of years with offices in Park River, Stephen, Cavalier and Langdon. When Wally retired, Richard had Mortenson CPA in Stephen. Recently, that business was sold for Richard to begin thinking about retirement. He really enjoyed working with his clients over the years.
Richard and Shannon raised Paige and JP in Kennedy and lived there until 2020. They moved to Warren, Minn., for over three years, and in the last two years had moved to Monticello, Minn., to be closer to their young grandchildren.
Richard believed in serving and giving back to his community. He sat on the boards for Red River Lutheran Church, Two River Golf Club, Kittson Central School District and Kittson Memorial Health Center. Richard was part of getting the Bearcat Booster Club started. He coached Babe Ruth baseball and volunteered at numerous events. He served as the treasurer of Red River Church for a number of years.
The most important thing to Richard was his family and friends. He never missed an event/ game that Paige and JP were in. He loved organizing the meals for weekends at the cabin on Lake Plantagenet or at home. He loved good conversations over morning coffee. He would often text family members, “Call me when properly caffeinated.” He thrived to make people feel welcome and accepted. He had a contagious enthusiasm for food and spending time with his family, which included nieces, nephews and in-laws. He was very thankful for the opportunity to enjoy his young granddaughters, Addy and Della, after moving to Monticello.
When diagnosed with metastatic cancer and given weeks to live, he chose to look back with no regrets and look forward with no regrets. He was thankful for all the travel opportunities with family and friends and just thankful in general for all he was given in this life. He has left a legacy of living and loving big.
Surviving Richard are: his wife, Shannon; daughter, Paige (Mike Niehoff); son, JP; granddaughters, Addy and Della Niehoff; mother, Doris Mortenson; sister, Jill (Erik) Holten; in-laws, Jeff and Anita Locken; nieces, Celia (Taylor) Lauremann, Anna (Laird) Vlaming, ND Josee (Casey) Gram; nephews Samuel Holten and Tristan (Tory) Locken; and great-nieces Julia and Margot Lauermann. He is also survived by Mortenson and Humes aunts, uncles and cousins.
Richard was preceded in death by: his father, Peter Mortenson; in-laws, James and Adeline Locken; and grandparents, Rand and Celia Humes and Herbert and Helen Mortenson, along with numerous close family relations.
An evening of memory sharing will take place at Far North Spirits, rural Hallock on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 5–9 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held Sunday, Jan. 18 at Red River Lutheran Church, rural Kennedy at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held at the church for an hour before the service.
Arrangements by Austin Funeral Home, Hallock. austinfuneralchapel.com.