Dianne Mae Mortel,

age 79 of Apple Valley, was born May 24, 1944 in Frederic, WI, to Virgil and Ruth Vangsgard, and died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on April 3, 2024.

Dianne graduated from Alexander Ramsey High School in 1962 and Oliver Thein Beauty School in 1963. She was married to David Mortel in 1965, and they had three beautiful children together. She spent much of her time throughout the years sewing clothes and quilts, gardening, being near water (she loved fishing and swimming!), ice-skating, cross-country skiing and milking cows on the dairy farm.  She always gave 100%.

Dianne loved her family.  She especially enjoyed playing cards at her brother’s cabin and playing games with her children and grandchildren.  She deeply cared for all of her family; she was proud of each of them and loved hearing about their lives. Dianne loved music and enjoyed dancing (especially in the living room with family!). She is remembered for her strong, constant and unwavering faith in God.  She is also fondly remembered for her love of cooking, baking and entertaining on the holidays.  Dianne had a way of making her family and others feel special.

Dianne will be dearly missed by her three children: Gary (Jessica), Greg (Jamie) and Karla (Rob) Neuenschwander; eight grandchildren: Cole, Alec (Ashlyn), Noah, Rachel (Mitchel), Randy, Josh, Julia and Jacob; three great grandchildren: Colton, Hans and Walker; sister, DuRae (Jim) Peterson and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Ruth Vangsgard and her brother and sister-in-law, Darrell (Karene) Vangsgard.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 with a visitation one hour before at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., in Apple Valley. Dianne will be laid to rest next to her parents at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Maplewood.