Marlene (Tiny) Olivia Torkelson

Marlene “Tiny” Torkelson age 72 of Tracy, MN died Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Services will be11:00 AM Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at Tracy Lutheran Church. Visitation will from 4:00 until 8:00 PM Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Interment will be in the Restland Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Slayton, MN following a luncheon served, immediately after the service, in the church social hall. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Marlene “Tiny” Olivia Torkelson was born October 28, 1940 to Morris and Frances (Visker) Johnson in Tracy, MN. She was baptized at the Tracy Lutheran Church and confirmed in the Zion Lutheran Church in Iona, MN. Marlene attended Tracy Public Schools, graduating from Tracy High School in 1958. On November 25, 1961, Marlene was united in marriage to Ray Ernest Torkelson at the Tracy Lutheran Church. They made their home in Iona, before moving to Currie, MN in 1971. In 2006, they moved from the farm into Tracy and shortly after her husband’s death in 2010, Marlene moved into Boulder Estates in Marshall, MN. In the past Marlene worked for Tony Down’s Produce in St. James, MN, and later at Campbell’s Soup Company in Worthington, MN. Then after her marriage she became a homemaker caring for her nine children. She returned to work in 1985 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, as a dietary aide in the kitchen and later into the housekeeping department, where she became director of the housekeeping department until her health forced her to retire in 2001. Marlene enjoyed being a homemaker. She loved cooking, gardening, and watching and feeding birds. She also liked doing crafts with the grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was the time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren that she truly loved the most. In 2012, Marlene became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Center, where she died, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the age of 72. Marlene is survived by her three sons, Greg (Lori) Torkelson of Tracy, MN, Kenny Torkelson of Adrian, MN and Steve (Roxanne) Torkelson of Olivia, MN; six daughters, Marie (Charlie) Bjorklund and Lynn (Dave) Petersen, both of Tracy, MN, Lori Carlson of Jackson, MN, Shari Thomas of Currie, MN, Amy Lamfers of Marshall, MN, and Kari Torkelson of Excelsior, MN; twenty five grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; two brothers, Keith (Jackie) Weinberg and Larry (Pam) Weinberg; eight sisters, Janice Dunk, Terie Johnson, Clarice “Punky” (Dallas) Norstegard, Eunice (Rodney) Behrends, Kay (Clayton) Paczkowski, Lauretta “Gretch” (Dale) Danielson, Debra (Greg) Daniels, and Karen (Randy) Peterson; many nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray E. Torkelson, son, John Charles Torkelson, great granddaughter, Madyson Stirn, her parents, Morris Johnson and Frances Weinberg, step-father, Art Weinberg, two brothers, Robert Johnson and Kenneth Weinberg, and two sisters, Dorothy McWhirter and Linda Johnson.