Mortensen, Verna Calista Cox, 1904-1979

Teacher Verna Mortensen (1904-1979) was born to Frank and Elthera Cox in Bunkerville, Nevada. The family relocated to St. George, Utah in 1910. Verna Mortensen went on to graduate from Dixie State Junior College in St. George. She served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Eastern United States.

In 1929 she married James Mortensen and the couple moved to a ranch in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. They couple had four children. Verna Mortensen moved back to St. George, Utah in 1949 and worked as a teacher at the local elementary school. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1960 and taught at Mountain View Elementary School and Crestwood Elementary School before retiring in 1969.

Following her retirement, Verna Mortensen became active in the Clark County chapter of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP). In 1971, members elected her president of the Clark County DUP, and went on to reelect her four times. With the DUP, she led efforts to preserve and restore the Las Vegas Mormon Fort. She served on the board of the Preservation Association of Clark County and received commendations for her work with the Las Vegas Mormon Fort. Mortensen passed away on April 26, 1979.