Diane Lea (Baker)  Mortensen Profile Photo
1937 Diane 2015

Diane Lea (Baker) Mortensen

December 13, 1937 — May 27, 2015

Our lovely mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, and sister, Diane Lea Baker Mortensen, passed away into the light of heaven on May 27, 2015.  Diane was born December 13, 1937 in Estherville, Iowa to Richard Glenn Baker and Hazel Ruth Hipple Baker.  She was the eldest of three children and the big sister to Linda Baker Gawrich and her baby brother, Richard Glenn Baker Jr.
When Diane was six years old her family moved to Cowan, Tennessee and lived there until her junior year of high school.  Having lived in Tennessee eleven years of her life, she was fond of telling her children stories about her charmed childhood in the south.  During her adult life she was able to return to her beloved Tennessee three times to visit.  We learned through her story telling that even Diane had participated in some naughty pranks and childhood mischief.
In 1955 the Baker family was advised to move to a dryer climate because of Diane’s brother’s asthma, so off they went to Glendale, CA where they lived for a short time.  This was during the first part of Diane’s senior year.  After only a short time there her family moved to Hawthorne, Nevada in 1956.  Hawthorne was a small town in western Nevada where the greatest gift of Diane’s life came along, her future husband, Val F. Mortensen, originally from Mesa, Arizona.  They met during their senior year and graduated together from Mineral County High School in June of 1956.  They found each other and after becoming a couple they never dated others and were committed to one another.  On September 28, 1957, Val and Diane were married in Hawthorne. Val and Diane were both eighteen years old.  Soon Diane was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It wasn’t long before they were beginning their own family and in December of 1958 their first child, Valerie Ann was born.
Diane loved babies and motherhood and was a protective, devoted mother.  It was her life calling and days before her passing she still counseled one of her granddaughter’s: “The best time in your life is the time when your children are young and at home.” Not long after Valerie’s birth the couple moved to Southern California in San Diego County.  This was to be the town where their family was raised. Three more little girls blessed their marriage:  Lisa Gay born in 1961, Patti Lea born in 1964, and Kathie Lynn born in 1968.  Diane and Val lived in a small beach town, Encinitas, where Val worked as an auto mechanic.  In 1976 the Mortensen family was surprised and blessed with one more child, their only son, Ryan.  After working hard for the family Val finally retired in September 2003 and Val and Diane moved to Utah, first in the Payson area and then settling in Springville for the last nine years.
Diane was a woman with a heart as big as the world and made from gold.  She was fiercely loyal and generous to her family and loved ones; even strangers.  Diane had a hot meal on the table at the end of each day, made sure the needs of her children were met, and loved her sweetheart Val.  They have been married for nearly 58 years; having been sealed for eternity in the Los Angeles LDS Temple on November 29, 1962.  She adored her children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren more than anything.  They were her life and happiness as was her “baby” Pepper, their prized puppy.
Diane loved to read, make desserts, play bingo with her grandchildren, go on trips with Val, and visit with her friends.  She would’ve gladly given the shirt off her back to a stranger in need. Our family is blessed that a woman so generous, dedicated, kind-hearted, and sincere would be our wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, and friend to all.
Her parents, Richard and Hazel Baker and her eldest grandson, Justin Clark Dove, precede her in death.
Diane is survived by her husband Val, daughters: Valerie Payne (Glenn), Lisa Dove (Michael), Patti Cowan, Kathie Poulson (Rick) and son, Ryan.  Val and Diane have 21 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.  Our family is eternal and she will greet us as an angel when it is our turn to walk toward the light of heaven.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 2 p.m. in the LDS Chapel at 1627 W. Cadbury Lane in Springville.  There will be a viewing at the chapel one hour prior to the funeral services.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Diane Lea (Baker) Mortensen, please visit our flower store.

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