Stanley A. Mortenson

Stanley A. Mortenson, age 95 of Litchfield, MN died on March 8, 2021 at the Bethany Assisted Living in Litchfield, MN. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday March 13, 2021 at Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield, MN. A walk through visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Friday March 12, 2021 at Johnson Hagglund Funeral and Cremation Service. Military honors will be by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. The memorial service will be live-streamed starting at 10:00 AM on Saturday March 13 and can be found on Stanley’s obituary page at johnsonhagglund.com. Stanley Arthur Mortenson was born on July 1, 1925 to Walter and Evelyn Mortensen of Darwin, MN. At the age of 12, the family moved to a farm 5 miles northwest of Cosmos, MN. During World War II in 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Corbusier (DE 438), which participated in the liberation of the Philippines (Leyte Gulf), and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. On January 7, 1949, Stanley was married to Arlene (Bubbles) Laffen by Reverend E.J. Kaiser at Peace Lutheran Church south of Cosmos in Brookfield Township. This marriage was blessed with two children. The couple lived on a farm northwest of Cosmos until 1954 when they moved into Cosmos. He owned and operated the Cosmos Blacksmith Shop for 43 years until he retired in 1997. Three years after he retired, they moved to Ripley Greens in Litchfield, MN and became members of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 2016 they moved into Emmaus Place where the following year his wife of 67 years passed away. While farming, he served on the Cosmos Creamery Board. After he moved to Cosmos, he served on the School Board and Cosmos Council. He belonged to the following Associations: National Blacksmith Welders Association, Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, American Legion, VFW and Meeker County Navy Club. He is survived by his two children, Steven (Norma) Mortenson of Sherrills Ford, NC and Connie Rae (Wayne) Weis of Stoughton, WI; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; four brothers Lloyd, Richard, James and Lowell; and one sister Mary. He was preceded in death by his wife Arlene; parents Walter and Evelyn; two sisters Alyce and Edith; and three brothers Clifford, Carroll and Darryl.