Harold Dean Mortensen
Harold Dean Mortensen
February 27, 1933 – October 23, 2017
Dean passed away peacefully on October 23, 2017 at The Meadows in Swift Current at the age of 84. Dean was a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed by all and especially by his loving wife Lorraine.
He was born on February 27, 1933 to Claritt and Mary Mortensen in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan. He started attending school at Mount Royal school and after 2 years attended the Kemmil Hill School at Antelope and graduated with his Grade 12 from Gull Lake High School.
On one family trip to Gull Lake when he was small he spotted a pretty little girl with ringlets in her hair and was immediately smitten. It was several years before he met her but he thought of her often. He married that little girl, Mary Lorraine Schriver (Dolly to him) September 27, 1952 and they recently celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary. They shared 65 years of love and Lorraine will miss him dearly. In addition to his wife Lorraine, he is survived by, sons Rick and his children Toni (Lonni Holt, Arissa) and Travis; Randy (Paige) and their children Leah (Mitchell Japp, Logan, Maryn and Esmae) and Derek (Carolyn); and Ted (Tanya, Dylan and Madison); grandson Reggie (Anita, Megan and Tyler); daughter-in-law Linda Mortensen (Dave Peters); his sister Karen Carlson and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by son, Michael George, parents, Claritt and Mary Mortensen, brother Howard «Bud» Mortensen, sister-in-law Irene Mortensen, brother-in-law Art Carlson, father-in-law Cliff Schriver, mother-in-law Mary Wilson and stepfather-in-law Ken Wilson.
After they were married Dean and Lorraine lived in Swift Current where Dean worked for the Revelstoke Sawmill, Dominion Oil Field Supply, and the South Saskatchewan Pipeline. In 1959 Dean and Lorraine took over her grandparents’ (George and Blanche Dunmire) farm near Antelope Lake. The first years were tough going but they worked hard and built a successful farming operation. All four boys were raised here and the family still owns the farm today. When Dean started a job or task he believed finishing it well before leaving it. One of Dean’s favourite spots was a hill on the farm where he liked to park his truck and think. He was honest and hard working. In the early years he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He tells of a day when he brought home a tree for Christmas. Rick was small and when he saw it coming he said: «Hey Mom, Dad shot a Christmas tree».
Over the years Dean had a variety of off the farm jobs as well – from selling cars and cheque writers to starting a company to build large screen TVs. He was part owner of the Dairy Queen and Arctic Cat Recreation in Swift Current in the 1970’s. In the 1990’s he and Danny Downey started a purebred Black Aberdeen Angus business that brought him a lot of pleasure travelling to auctions and working together.
In 1966 eight of Dean’s hunting and fishing buddies joined together to build a resort on a piece of his farm land along the shore of Antelope Lake. This served as a wonderful weekend getaway for families. Fishing, campfires, horseshoes and dances in the hall were highlights at Arrowhead Lodge, resulting in many favourite memories.
A proud community member, Dean was always there to help. He was a long time member of the BPO Elks #164 in Gull Lake and was the exalted ruler for 2 terms. He enjoyed leading 4H, coaching the boys ball teams and watching hockey. After moving to Swift Current in 2012 he became a member of the Prairie Pioneers Kiwanis Club.
After many winters of renting houses in Gull Lake they built their own house in town in 1987. They eventually moved into Gull Lake full time in the early 1990’s. In 1998 they took their first trip to Yuma, Arizona and bought a park model trailer that they enjoyed going to for 14 years. Dean really enjoyed getting out of the cold Saskatchewan winters. He also loved going to iHop for brunch with friends, taking a day trip to Algadones, Mexico to barter and practise his Spanish and he always took visitors for a date shake. He also enjoyed watching the Yuma Scorpions baseball team.
In 2012 they sold the house in Gull Lake and moved into Riverview Village Estates in Swift Current.
Family was always the number one priority for Dean. He loved family get-togethers and any chance to spend time with family and friends. He also enjoyed watching sports and was an avid Blue Jay, Rider and Maple Leafs fan. He had a heart of gold and was always there to help anyone who needed him. He will be missed.
A memorial service was held on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Warren’s Funeral Home in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. In memory of Dean Mortensen donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan (1738 Quebec Street, Unit 26 Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9) or the Canadian Cancer Society (1910 McIntyre Street Regina, SK S4P 2R3) would be appreciated. Warren’s Funeral Home were entrusted with the arrangements. For further information call 306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606 or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members in our book of condolences.
Send Condolences
Return to Index

Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Harold Dean Mortensen – 2017.source

Décès pour la Ville: Swift-Current, Province: Saskatchewan

avis deces Harold Dean Mortensen – 2017- avis mortuaire Harold Dean Mortensen – 2017