Monine Elizabeth Mortensen ended her battle with pancreatic cancer at home on November 29, 2014, surrounded by family. Monine was born in Moorefield, Nebraska on December 2, 1929 to Carroll and Nona Shaffer. She attended Moorefield School for ten years. When the school closed, she finished the last two years of high school at NSA in Curtis, Nebraska. She went to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for two years, receiving her teaching certificate. Monine taught one year at the Curtis Public Grade School.
On August 20, 1950, she married Ivan Mortensen of Curtis. They made their home on the Mortensen farm where they had five children, David, Linda, Jane, Allan, and Sandra. Monine and Ivan celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary in August.
While the children were in the home Monine was a full-time family provider. She was a member and Sunday school teacher at the Danish Ebenezer Lutheran Church located ¼ mile from the farm home. When the Danish Lutheran Church burned down she joined the St. John Lutheran Church of Curtis. She was a 4-H leader, school board member, and a member of the Busy Homemakers extension club. Monine was also active in community service projects, serving on the Medical Board, and Easter Pageant publicity committee. Monine was instrumental in establishing ambulance service in the community, serving as an EMT and ambulance driver. She was also a correspondent writer for the Curtis Enterprise, North Platte Telegraph and The Tri-City Tribune.
At Christmas, Monine loved to dress up as Santa Claus and deliver plates of cookies to families in the community. After the children left the home for teaching, nursing, and farm jobs, Monine began working at the Moorefield Nursery. She started as a planter then worked in several nursery departments including plant sales for Nebraska and neighboring states throughout her career. From 1988 to 2007 she drove a school bus for the Medicine Valley School District. Monine transported special needs children to the McCook Special Education facility where she also worked as a para-educator. Later she enjoyed driving a local route. Monine was also a substitute teacher in the Medicine Valley School district for many years. Monine and Ivan enjoyed supporting their grandchildren’s school activities.
Monine is survived by her husband Ivan of the home, children David (Colleen) Mortensen, Curtis; Linda (Mick) Glaze, Oberlin, KS; Jane (Gene) Burton, Norton KS; Allan (Kim) Mortensen, Curtis; and Sandra (Pat) Messersmith, Maywood, NE; 15 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren; and one brother, George (Marilou) Shaffer of Capitan, N.M.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Carroll and Nona Shaffer, in-laws Pete and Alice Mortensen, brothers James and Jack Shaffer and 16 month old grandchild Orin Glaze.