Condolence: This is Duane's cousin James Linder (born 1951). My mother is Margaret Torkelson Linder. My dad's name is Frank Linder.

We had a Torkelson Reunion over at Duane's mom and dad, Bennie and Lily, in the Summer of 1958.
Bennie and Lily's daughter Tootsie and her husband Sheldon were there too from their home in Brooklyn, New York. (Tootsie, famous in the Family for standing in the way of the family horse at the stock tank with water when the horse become impatient as Tootsie was blocking the horse from drinking so the horse bit Tootsie in the butt to get her to move; I've seen horses bite cows at the stock tank too; horses will bite with Big teeth.)

Duane had a black car in 1958 and we didn't see much of him that whole day as he'd come into the yard to turn around and went straight out again. My brother Ronald and Cousin Leroy Torkelson were riding with him most of the day. I remember the car had a noisy transmission that would whine as it went down the road. I being 7 years old at the time was curiously amazed Duane had a car just like the rest of the grownups.

The farm Duane grew up on would flood every year in the Spring from the snow melt and the water on the farm would sometimes stay half the summer. The Lost River nearby was dredged out in 1965 along with a big ditch by the Farm taking care of the flooding forever. Bennie and Lily's farm had some of the riches and best soil in the country. It didn't need much fertilizer to get a good crop. Bennie and Lily had 10 milk cows that they treated very well. Bennie and Lily were great around cows.

Bennie Torkelson's father, Ole Torkelson, Oklee, Minnesota, died in 1936, July 13, 1936, the hottest day on record in Minnesota. Ole Torkelson was out repairing a fence for the cattle when he did not come home my grandmother (Duane's too) went out to look for him and found him unconscious so he was carried home to the house but he died later, the Death Certificate says death by Heat Stroke.

In 1967 the Torkelson's had a family reunion at Uncle Oscar Torkelson's lake cabin on Roy Lake. It was interesting as Duane got a job at Bucyrus Erie in Milwaukee as a welders helper ($4 and hour?). What was most interesting about the reunion was Duane's new 1967 Mercury Cougar, maroon with a black vinyl top, 2 door hardtop, hideaway head lights, bucket seats, 289 engine with a floor shift, automatic. Beautiful car.

Those Were the Days.

Condolence: May God comfort and guide you during this difficult time; and may the "peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your heart and your mental powers". Philippians 4:7.

Condolence: My condolences to your family. In your sorrow may there be hope, in your thoughts may there be peace, in your heart may there be be healing. Psalm 147:73 assures us "He (Jehovah God) heals the broken hearted,He binds up our wounds". May you find comfort in God's Words at this difficult time.

Condolence: My condolences to your family. In your sorrow may there be hope, in your thoughts may there be peace, in your heart may there be be healing. Psalm 147:73 assures us "He (Jehovah God) heals the broken hearted,He binds up our wounds". May you find comfort in God's Words at this difficult time.