Torkel (Tork) Leon Torkelson

Torkel (Tork) Leon Torkelson, 87, died March 9, 2015 in Whitefish. He was born Dec. 9, 1927 in Spokane, Wash.

Tork met Lorraine Brown in high school, and they were later married and raised their children in Whitefish in the home he built with his own two hands.

He went to work for the Great Northern railroad in 1947 and retired from the Burlington Northern railroad in 1990. Many of those years were as a machine operator building bridges and tunnels.

He was a part of the Whitefish Boat Club, the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the Masons, and an honorary member of the Moose Lodge. Tork’s passion was being a pilot and flying small private airplanes. He enjoyed golfing, shooting trap, hunting, ice fishing, camping and being part of four wheeling with the Iguanas.

Tork was proceeded in death by his wife, Lorraine Brown Torkelson; his parents, Torkel and Adeline Torkelson, of Spokane; brother, Harold Torkelson; granddaughter, Shyloh Cochran, of Whitefish; and great-granddaughter Alysa Huffine, of Polson.

He is survived by son, Wayne and wife Robby Torkelson, of Columbia Fall; daughter, Laurel and Dallas Torgerson, of Polson; daughter, Karla and husband Joe McKellar, of Whitefish; several grandchildren, Olin and Blaine Torkelson, Darryl, Darrin, Leigh (Huffine) and Mara Torgerson, Jesse Cochran, and numerous great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Kenny and wife Evelyn Torkelson of Spokane, Wash.

There will be a memorial service for family and friends at the Moose Lodge in Whitefish, Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m., with a luncheon to follow.

If you would like to make a donation, please do so to the charity of your choice.