My Grandpa and Grandma Mortensen

Married Dec. 9 1943

The last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy for my family. My Grandma Mortensen had been sick and in the hospital for a few weeks, probably most of February, and we weren't really sure if she was going to make it. She had quite a few procedures done to help make her better. We were so happy when she was finally able to come home. Well during all that process my Grandpa's health started to take a turn for the worse and so they scheduled him a doctor's appointment. We all figured it would be pretty routine and that they would give him some medicine to fix the problem and everything would go back to normal. Well that didn't happen instead they gave him 2 days to 6 weeks to live. It was a hard blow to us all. On Thursday February 26 my brother and I left to go to Animas so that we could tell Grandpa that we loved him and pretty much say our goodbyes. Friday was the last day he got out of bed and Sunday evening he passed away.

Dave, Emmabelle, Grandpa, Avery and Clinton.

This picture was taken Friday Feb. 27 2009.

My Dad and his brothers and sisters had been keeping a close eye on my Grandma this whole time. They made sure she knew what was happening and we all thought she was taking it ok. On Monday night she had been resting on the couch and they got her up to eat and from the time she walked from the couch to the table it just somehow hit her all at once. They ended up taking her to the emergency room and were told that nothing physically was wrong with her and that she was just stressed and depressed. They drove her home and put her in bed and she never got out again nor did she open her eyes again. She was so heartbroken and just didn't know how to live without Grandpa. She finally passed away Sunday morning. Almost exactly a week from Grandpa. I think Grandpa was making sure everything was perfect for Grandma. He wouldn't have it any other way he would want everything to be just right when she joined him again. I can picture them dancing in the clouds together. We will have a graveside service for her tomorrow.

We held Grandpa's funeral services on Thursday the 5th and they decided to go ahead and have a memorial for Grandma at the same time. It would be too hard to get everyone back to do a funeral for her also. The whole service was so nice. I really loved Grandpa's casket. It fit him perfectly. Uncle Jim and Uncle Jeff gave the life stories. Courtlyn and Callie Mortensen sang a special number, and then all the grandkids attmepted to sing "Families are Forever." Thank goodness for younger grandkids. Archie Payne gave a nice little talk and shared some good memories about Grandpa. The ward had a nice luncheon for everyone, and then we drove to Virden for the graveside services.

Grandpa and Grandma are being buried next to his parents, and so we were able to get a picture with Emmabelle next to the headstone of her namesake Emma Belle Mortensen. It was neat.

My grandpa was such an amazing man. He was so strong and loved by so many. Counting him and my Grandma there are 85 in the family. I loved being around him. I can remember being at his house when he came home from work and giving him a hard time about smelling bad. He worked at a hog farm so he really did smell bad when he came home. He was so good at taking care of you when you were sick. Except for when he wanted you to drink the nasty black tea to help settle your stomach. He was always teasing you, but that was how you knew he loved you so much. Everytime I drive at night I can still hear him say "I'm going to kick out your headlights." He hated us driving in the dark. You could never walk by his chair without him grabing you by the hand or the arm just to give you a squeeze. I will always remember the way he loved my Grandma. They were such an amazing couple, they were married 65 years this last December. He will always be an example to me.

This hangs in my grandmother's house.

It is all the members of our family.

I will always remember my Grandma's cinnamon rolls, her wonderful attitude towards life and how much she cared about each one of her family members. I also have very high respect for my Grandma. She was always worrying and making sure we were all in line. When we would get together on Sunday nights at their house she would always make sure to get in some kind of gospel principle. She was such a righteous woman. She is the best journal keeper I have ever know and I look forward to being able to read her thoughts and words. She never thought of herself. She loved my Grandpa with all her heart, he was her reason for living. She was a faithful and loving woman to the end and I will always look to her example in my life. I just hope someday I can live up to the standard she kept.

On the day of the funeral all of my grandparent's family were there, except for one of Troy's kids who was getting over being really sick. That put the total of just immediate family to 81. Even with our yearly reunions we haven't been able to pull that number in quite a few years. My mom was really excited because all of her kids and grandkids were able to make it.