Phoebe Mortensen, 70

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The funeral service for Phoebe Ann Mortensen of New Richland will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the First Congregational Church in New Richland. The Rev. Pamela Jensen will officiate. Interment will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery, New Richland. Friends may visit with family from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Friedrich Funeral Home, New Richland.
Phoebe died on Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, at her daughter’s home in Edgerton, following a very brief battle with cancer. She was 70.
She was born on Feb. 13, 1939, in Windom, the daughter of Harlow and Edith (Beck) Osteboe. She attended schools in Trimont and Waseca. On March 23, 1957, she married Ben C. Mortensen Sr. at First Congregational Church in New Richland. Following their marriage, Ben was stationed at the naval base in San Diego and they lived there before making their home in New Richland. She had worked at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea, the Waseca Hospital, New Richland Care Center and Owatonna Physical Therapy before her retirement in 2002.
She was a member of First Congregational Church in New Richland. Phoebe enjoyed reading, and was a collector of Precious Moments, bells and angels. She was passionate about music and enjoyed playing the piano. She treasured all the special times with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed by her children: Ben Mortensen and his wife Deb of Albert Lea, Scott Mortensen of Ankeny, Iowa, Laurie Mortensen of Edgerton, and Kurt Mortensen and his wife Michelle of Hartland; grandchildren: Ryan and Amanda Mortensen, Alexx Sorenson, and Andrew Bolluyt, Conrad, Spencer, Jacklyn and Brannigan Mortensen, and Zach Mortensen; great-grandchildren: Isaiah and Hailey; friend, Sherry Mortensen; brother, Harlow Osteboe, and his wife Carol of Wilton, Wis., sister, Joyce, and her husband Richard Hartjen of Barstow, Calif.; nephews: Richard and Kevin Hartjen and Thor and Paul Osteboe; special great-niece, Sara Osteboe; special “adopted” grandchildren: Bianca and Dillon Kohnert.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Benjamin Mortensen Sr., in 1991.