FAIRMONT — A private family funeral service for Donna Torgerson, age 88, of Fairmont, Minn., will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont. The funeral service will be livestreamed for those wishing to watch at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, on the following link: https://client.tribucast.com/ tcid/82062170. The recording will be available at that link for 90 days.

Donna Marie (Beam) Torgerson was born March 24, 1932, on a farm near Storm Lake, Iowa, the second child and daughter of Glenn and Mildred (Philips) Beam. She was baptized at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, Iowa. Donna attended high school in Bradgate, Iowa.

On Oct. 10, 1948, she was united in marriage to Wayne Torgerson at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, Iowa. The couple farmed in the Bode area and gave birth to two children, Marcia and Stephen. In 1957, the family moved to Fairmont, where they had their third child, Scott. They made their home on the south end of Amber Lake Drive for 53 years.

Donna earned her GED from Fairmont HS and graduated from Jackson Vo-Tech with a secretarial certification. She worked for many different businesses in Fairmont, including Montgomery Ward, Daugherty and Scott Law Offices, Martin County Extension Office, Royal Neighbors of America, AAA office, Nasby Agra Systems and others.

She was very active in social services, including the local chapter of the Business and Professional Women’s Association, where she served as the local president and also as the state VP; Martin County 4-H; the local DFL Party; and served on Grace Lutheran Church’s Missions Committee, as church treasurer, youth group sponsor, on short-term mission teams to Pine Ridge, S.D., and many other functions. Donna was an advocate for women. As a skilled organizer, she gladly led several fund-raising events for families facing special needs.

She was an avid gardener, always keen to learn more about growing flowers and vegetables, including working at Smith’s Nursery following retirement just to learn more about plants. She was an excellent seamstress, photographer and cook. Her famous dinner rolls were a family favorite. She inspired a love for birds and nature among the family and was a very fun grandmother and great-grandmother, who loved to laugh and tell stories.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Marcia (Ted) Schaefer of Fairmont, Stephen (Merrilee) Torgerson of Fairmont, and Scott (Karen) Torgerson of Eden Prairie; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Janice Toland; three brothers-in-law; one sister-in-law; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, foster children and friends.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Wayne; parents, Harry Glenn and Mildred Beam; and brothers, Jim and Phil.

Memorials may be donated to Grace Lutheran Church Missions.

Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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