Francis
M. Torkelson, 70South Milwaukee, WI - Francis M. "Marion" Torkelson, 70, died Monday, September 28, 1998 in South Milwaukee, WI.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 2 at Trinity Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee.
Francis Marion Torkelson was born on August 2, 1928 in Baker, MT, the son of Melvin and Helen Torkelson. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Pauli Lutheran Church and grew up in rural Thief River Falls. Following graduation from Lincoln High School in 1946, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on tankers. After his discharge in 1948 he began working for Bucyrus Erie.
In 1950 he married Theresa "Terri" Lara, and they moved to Anchorage, AK where he worked at Elmendorf Air Force Base for a year. After completing station master schooling in Minneapolis he worked for the railroad in Wisconsin and Illinois before returning to Bucyrus Erie where he worked as a welder until his retirement.
Marion is survived by his wife, Theresa; one daughter, Brenda of South Milwaukee, WI; one son, Steven of Tampa, FL; his mother and stepfather, Helen and Orris Olson of Thief River Falls; two brothers, Wallace (Delores) Torkelson of Thief River Falls and Marvin (Darlene) of West Allis, WI; five sisters, Geraldine Guerard of South Milwaukee, WI, Wahna Smith of Lawrenceville, GA, Faye (Oliver) Auchenpaugh of Thief River Falls, Ivette Garrett of South St. Paul; and Pamela (Kevin) Kittridge of Maplewood; three brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin; and one brother, Willis.