M. Elizabeth “Libby� Mortensen was born November 8, 1913, in Barlow, North Dakota, the daughter of Johanna (Ugelstad) and Lewis Mortensen. She spent her early years living on the farm her father homesteaded SE of New Rockford. When she was six, the family moved into the town of New Rockford, where Libby started school not knowing a word of English. She spoke only Norwegian.

Libby graduated from New Rockford High School in 1932. She was a talented pianist, accompanying many school and community musical productions. While in high school, she formed the musical group “Libby and her Fairview Four� with neighborhood friends. As an organist in her adult years, Libby continued her enjoyment of music throughout her life.

After high school, Libby worked for a year as a teller at her father’s bank, The First State Bank of New Rockford.

In the fall of 1933, Libby enrolled at North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU) in Fargo, which she attended for two years. She was an expert marksman on the NDAC Rifle Team. She transferred to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks for her next two years. While at UND she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

On March 14, 1942, Libby was united in marriage to the love of her life, Harford Osborne Wilson, one week after he received his draft notice. Harford received his commission in the Army Air Corps and did not return home from overseas until 1946. While Harford was in the service, Libby lived at home caring for her disabled mother. Libby and Harford had two children, June Louise and Lewis Jack.

Though Libby moved to Bismarck in 1977 and Fargo in 2006, she always considered New Rockford her home.

Libby was preceded in death by her husband Harford in1954; her mother Johanna in 1955; and her father Lewis in 1960.

After the death of her husband in 1954, Libby founded the Women’s Auxiliary Cemetery Association to care for Prairie Home and St. John’s Cemeteries in New Rockford. This all-volunteer group of women solicited donations to hire a caretaker and landscape the cemeteries, doing all the planting themselves. Still under the care of the W.A.C.A., the New Rockford cemeteries look as they do today because of the founding of this organization more than 50 years ago.

She is survived by her son, Lewis Wilson of Fargo, her daughter and son-in-law, June and Darrell Hagen of Helena, Montana, her granddaughters Sara Hull of Billings, Montana, and Jenny (Patrick) McJannet of Helena, Montana, and great-grandchildren Tyler and David Hull and Paige and Allison McJannet.

At Libby’s request, a private family service has been held. Memorials may be sent to the Women’s Auxiliary Cemetery Association, % Patty Gehrtz, 102 Riverview Court, New Rockford, ND 58356 or Community Ambulance Service, % Sandy O’Connor, 119 First Avenue N, New Rockford, ND 58356.