Obituaries from the week of March 25, 2009
James “Dean” Mortland, 76
James “Dean” Mortland of Marshall,
MN, formerly of Tracy, MN died Thursday, March 19, 2009 at the Avera-McKennan
Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services were held on Monday March
23, 2009 at the Tracy United Methodist Church.
James Dean Mortland was born
February 12, 1933 to James A. and Anna “Berniece” (Hind) Mortland on a farm in
Ellsborough Township, Murray County, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the
Methodist faith and grew up on a farm near Russell, MN, where he attended
Russell Public Schools. His family then moved to a farm near Lake Benton, MN
and he attended country school before Lake Benton High School, graduating in
1951. Dean then enrolled in Mankato State College and graduated with a BA
degree in Education. While in college he was given a deferment from the draft
board to finish his degree, so upon graduating in 1954 he entered into the U.
S. Army. He was stationed in Baltimore, MD and attached to military
intelligence.
On Nov. 7, 1954 Dean married Marilyn
Stoltzman on his parent’s farm near Lake Benton. As Dean was still in the
Military they made their home in Baltimore for a short time before his station
to St. Paul, MN. He received his honorable discharge in 1956 and they moved to
Los Angeles, CA that year. They moved back to Russell, MN where Dean got his
first teaching job in 1957 and they lived there until 1959 when they moved to
Atwater, MN from 1959 to 1962. In 1962 they moved to Tracy, MN where Dean
taught 29 years until 1991 when he retired from full time teaching. After 34
years of Teaching, they moved to Marshall, MN, where he was a substitute
teacher for over 15 years, besides several other surrounding communities. He
taught mostly 7th grade English and Geography and was the Golf Team Coach for
many years in Tracy. During the summer months he also was a truck driver for
Northstar Concrete of Mankato, MN, Rupp Construction of Slayton, MN and most
recently, for Helena Chemical Company of Marshall, MN.
He was a past member of the Tracy
United Methodist Church, the NEA and MEA. He enjoyed reading, quoting poetry,
driving truck and spending time with his grandchildren. Besides coaching golf,
Dean also loved basketball, and he kept the stats for Tracy High School and Southwest
State University Basketball teams for many years. He will also be remembered by
family and friends for his love of story telling, of which, his tale of Swen
Swenson, holds a special place in their memories.
On Thursday, March 19, 2009 Dean
died, surrounded by his loving family, at the Avera-McKennan Medical Center in
Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 76.
Dean is survived by his one
daughter, Sandy (Jeff Williams) Sik of Marshall, MN; three sons, Jim (Mary)
Mortland of Marshall, MN, Dave Mortland of Sioux Falls, SD and Tom (Niki
Anderson) Mortland of Colton, SD; nine grandchildren, James Mortland III,
Jennifer Tuffs, Dustin Hoffman, Mitchell, Dylan, Malia, and Zachary Mortland,
Cassidy Nelson and Staci Lubben; five great grandchildren, Riley and Jessica
Tuffs, Abigail and Felicity Mortland and Sebastian Kron; one brother, Daniel
(Priscilla) Mortland of Chicago, IL; two sisters, Virginia Yearous of Balaton,
MN and Ann (Henry) Petersen of Hardwick, MN; one brother-in-law, Bill (Rita)
Doyscher of Tyler, MN; nieces, nephews and many friends.
His parents, loving wife, Marilyn,
one infant grandson, one infant granddaughter, one sister, Lorraine Doyscher
and one brother-in-law, Delmar Yearous preceded him in death.
Interment was at the Tracy City
Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
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