- Date Of Birth: March 4, 2015
- Date Of Death: February 27, 2015
- State: Idaho
Marjorie Oakeson Mortensen, our loving and devoted wife and mother and grandmother, passed away with her devoted husband and loving children surrounding her on February 27, 2015.
Margie was born on May 3, 1922 at her home in South Jordan, Utah to Harvey Andrew and Mariah Elizabeth Leak Oakeson, the seventh of ten children. She grew up on the family farm. She claims she and her sisters slept four to a bed but had no trouble sleeping because they were so tired after working all day on the farm. She loved her childhood and her brothers and sisters. Margie attended Jordan High School, graduating in 1940.
After graduation, Margie worked for G. & H Casket Company for 10 years. It was during WWII so a lot of men were at war and Margie did a lot of the men’s work for the company. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed playing softball. She played every position but pitched for 9 years. Her team won six championships and she was later invited to play on a semi-pro team, The Shamrocks, as a pitcher.
Her other favorite pastime was dancing. She was shy but somehow when the music started, Margie lost her bashfulness and was able to let loose. During the war, there were a lot of dance contests and Margie would dance in all of them. She won several times. She also taught ballroom dancing to kids in the MIA. During this time, Margie saved her money and bought a car and did a lot of traveling, all over the west and into Canada.
It was on the dance floor that Margie met the love of her life, Harold Wimmer Mortensen, at the Coconut Grove in Salt Lake City. In Marge’s words “I dated a lot of guys in the 10 year span after high school. I couldn’t seem to find one I could hook up with. The older I got, the harder it was. By then I was set in my ways. So I decided not to be so fussy and overlook a few faults.“
At the ripe old age of 31 , she married Harold Wimmer Mortensen on October 17, 1953. They were later sealed in the Logan Temple. Together, they had 7 children Roy (Linda), Coralea (Les) Turner, Victor (Debbie), Scott (Kathy), Kenneth (Cheyenne), Todd (Rebecca) and Brian (Camille). They are the grandparents of 36 children and great grandparents of 48. They have lived in Bountiful, Utah, El Paso Texas, Sheridan Wyoming and Boise, Idaho.
Margie’s greatest accomplishment is her family. She was proud of each of them and the things they were doing. Margie said “When I was about 19, I got my patriarchal blessing. In my blessing, it said I would have a nice family and they would honor my name and they have done just that.” Margie’s home was always a comfortable and welcome place to be and it was a rare moment when her house was empty. She taught her family to “Be of Good Cheer” and “Live Your Religion.” She had a fun relationship with her children who rarely called her Mom. Each of her nicknames was some kind of inside joke. She was known to them as Large Marge, Stig, Stolic, and Margene but usually just Marge.
In Margie’s words “I have been blessed with good health most of my life, for which I am thankful. As I look back, I feel my life has been great.
One of her last wishes was that she would pass while The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was playing. The grandchildren all knew that if Grandma heard some old big band dance music, it didn’t matter her age or health, she would “feel the beat.” And even if she couldn’t dance, she would pretend she was. It’s nice to know that Grandma can now dance in heaven.
