Mort Mortenson

Mortenson, Mauritz Arthur, Jr. Mort died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Saturday, November 9 and is predeceased by his parents and his sister Ann. He was born to Jennie and Mort Mortenson Sr. on November 27, 1936, in Plattsburgh, New York. He moved to Minneapolis when he was 5 and graduated from Edina High School before going to University of Colorado where he studied civil engineering and was an ROTC Naval officer. After graduating in 1958, he proudly served the US Navy on the USS Lansing (DER 388) in Honolulu, Hawaii. His years in the Navy were a very formative time. After being discharged he returned to Minneapolis to join the construction business his father had started six years earlier. He began as an estimator and project manager and became President in 1969, when his father retired. Over a five decade long career, he led the business to national prominence. He married his lifelong partner, Alice, in Madison, WI in 1964. He is survived by her and their four sons and wives: David and Kate, Mark and Katie, Chris and Nathalie, and Mathias and Dana; as well as by his ten grandchildren: Jack, Norah and Charlie; Will, Peter and Nels; Elena and Camila; and Agnes and Edith. Mort's wife, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren were the great loves of his life. Thanksgivings at home, summers at the lake and gatherings in Hawaii were Mort's favorite family times. His life's work, his vocation and avocation, was the construction business. He loved construction. The business grew from its early years to become a national leader in renewable energy, sports facilities and health care, and is now the 16th largest contractor in the country. He always viewed the company's accomplishments as an outgrowth of the leaders and talented builders who dedicated their careers to the business. Mort believed strongly in giving back to community. He was an elder and trustee of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a trustee at Macalester College, a president of the Association of General Contractors (AGC), and a board member of the Boys & Girls Club. He and Alice founded the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering at the University of Colorado and were founding members of United Way's Century Legacy Society. They gave generously to the Universities of Colorado and Wisconsin, Macalester College, and to the University of Minnesota. In 1999, Mort and Alice started the Mortenson Family Foundation which has been the center of the family's giving for more than two decades. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Association of General Contractors, Boy Scouts of America, Ernst & Young, Finance & Commerce, Junior Achievement, the University of Wisconsin's Construction Club and United Way's Tocqueville Society; he was placed in the Hall of Fames for Edina High School and Twin Cities Business Magazine; and he received numerous awards from his alma mater including the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, the University Medal, and the George Norlin Award. Mort was the epitome of being a servant leader. His deep faith, his love of family and his deep friendships were his guiding light and his source of energy. He felt blessed, grateful and hopeful all the way to the end. The family is grateful for the extraordinary care Mort received from Abbott Northwestern Hospital and at home from Becky's angels. A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Ave., Mpls. on November 23rd at 10:30am. Memorials may be directed to Westminster Presbyterian Church or Dunwoody College of Technology.

Tributes

Mort Mortenson

November 27, 1936 - November 9, 2019

Tributes

Mort Mortenson

November 27, 1936 - November 9, 2019

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