Torkelson, Dorothy Ann (1931-2017)

TORKELSON, CHARLSON, KALSEM, JOHNSON, LIVERCA, MEINDERS, ELAM, KLIMA, SCHMELING, MCMILLAN, SHIELL, GAYLORD, MILLER, SCHEIDNES

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/2/2017 at 19:52:05

Dorothy Ann Torkelson
January 19, 1931 - April 4, 2017

Dorothy Torkelson, age 86, of Buffalo Center, Iowa, passed away on April 4, 2017.

Dorothy Ann was born in Lake Mills, Iowa, on January 19, 1931, to Lester and Olive Charlson. Baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson, she spent her youth in Thompson and graduated from the Thompson Community School in 1948. On April 24, 1949, she married Nerlyn Torkelson, her high school sweetheart. They lived on the Torkelson family farm near Buffalo Center for the rest of their lives.

During the farm crisis of the 1980s, Dorothy took her first job outside the home at age 53. She worked at the Timely Mission Nursing Home as a certified nursing assistant for the next twenty-two years. She enjoyed serving the residents and made many enduring friendships. Although she loved the camaraderie, she would, also, joke that 5:00 a.m. came “pretty early.”

For the most part, Dorothy's life revolved around her children and grandchildren. A highlight in her life included a trip to Norway with family including her sister- and brother-in-law, June and Ken Kalsem. Her hobbies included quilting, flower and vegetable gardening, feeding the birds, pampering her cats, watching the squirrels, and baking. Her family loved her delicious homemade doughnuts, kringla, and “Grandma's Buns.” She loved attending all the various events in which her children and grandchildren participated. In the past few years, Dorothy, also, developed a keen interest in watching the Twins’, Vikings’, Hawkeyes’, Cyclones’, and Gophers’ games as well as other sporting events on TV. KJLY Christian radio, also, became a daily part of her life. As a faithful member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, she, actively, participated in the Hope Circle and with quilting activities

Dorothy battled cancer several times, surviving colon cancer in 1998. In 2015, however, she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and gastric cancer. Although she enjoyed quality family time after treatment, the cancer returned in March of 2017. After a brief stay at the University of Minnesota Hospital, she returned to the Timely Mission Nursing Home. Dorothy passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, friends, and former co-workers.

She is survived by her six children and their spouses: Dewayne and Jan Torkelson, of Terril, Iowa, Janis and Gary Johnson, of Eagle Lake, Minnesota, Larry and Jane Torkelson, of Golden Valley, Minnesota, Jim and Mary Torkelson, of Plymouth, Minnesota, Marilyn and Mark Liverca, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Sherill and Gary Meinders, of Buffalo Center, Iowa; sixteen grandchildren: Kyle (Amy) Torkelson, Beth (John) Elam, Megan (Marc) Klima, Stephanie (Jeff) Schmeling, Tricia McMillan, Anne (Adam) Shiell, Ruth (Andrew) Gaylord, Michelle (Kirk) McKinley, Nicole Torkelson, Jill (Dan) Miller, Ben Liverca, Nick (Bridget) Liverca, Erin (Tom) Scheidnes, Scott (Signe) Meinders, Zach (Macie) Meinders, Jake (Brittany) Meinders; nine great-grandchildren; her brother, Donald Charlson; and her sister, Vivian Miller; as well as by many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Nerlyn; her parents, Olive and Lester Charlson; Nerlyn's parents, Jeanette and Henry Torkelson; her sisters-in-law, June Kalsem and Leona Charlson; her brothers-in-law, Ken Kalsem and Marvin Miller; and one granddaughter, Kathryn.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, April 10, 2017, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Buffalo Center. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday also at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center.

Oakcrest Funeral Services ~ Winter Chapel, 2017.

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