Lois Torgerson

Lois Jeanne Torgerson, age 88, of Clinton, MN, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 26, 2025, at Ortonville Area Health Services Hospital in Ortonville, MN.

Funeral services for Lois will be held on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, MN. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a time of sharing beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Minister Jim Rach will officiate the service. Interment will be at the Clinton City Cemetery at a later date.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page. 

Lois Jeanne Hanson Torgerson was born in Montevideo, MN, on September 27, 1936, to parents, Clarence M. Hanson and Marian O. (Kirkeby) Hanson, the eldest of three children. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo and graduated from Montevideo High School in 1954, where she was active in choir and band - she especially enjoyed playing the trombone. She worked at a neighborhood grocery store and later at Northern States Power Company after graduation.

As a high school senior, Lois considered herself lucky to have won a 1953 Chevrolet in a Hospital Fundraiser, called “Wings Over Monte” – a story she loved to tell.

On April 23, 1955, she married David Torgerson of Watson, MN, at her home church. Together, they began a lifelong career of community journalism, starting at The Watson Journal and later working at the Redwood Falls Gazette before purchasing The Clinton Advocate. In 1965, they sold the paper to Kaercher Publications, who also owned the Graceville Enterprise. The two publications were combined and named The Northern Star by the late publisher, Lem Kaercher, noting it was located for the north end of Big Stone County. Dave and Lois served as editors for many years and were both proud members of the Half Century Club of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. They also volunteered at the Minnesota State Fair where they demonstrated how a weekly small-town paper “used to be printed”.

A ‘self-taught journalist and newspaper editor’, Lois could interview someone, take a few notes and put together a feature article in a very short amount of time. She read nearly 20 weekly newspapers, gathering items from other communities to share in The Northern Star. The technology and changes in publishing a newspaper in the past 60+ years, were never really that much of a challenge to her, she just did it. She also shared her reflections and wit in her weekly column, “This ’n That’ by Mrs. T”, a beloved feature that became one of the highlights of The Northern Star.

Dave and Lois raised five children: Denese, Mark, Dale, Eric (who passed away in 2016), and Janine. Lois was deeply involved in church and community. She served as a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent at Trinity Lutheran Church, was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Clinton Commercial Club, Clinton School Board, Clinton Community Clinic Board, and a Rice Hospice board member. She was proud to be Charter Member of the Clinton Women’s Civic Club.

Lois was proud to be a member of the Clinton September Club, a group of 12 women whose birthdays were in September and met yearly, keeping the number at 12 through generations.

Lois was her family’s greatest supporter, rarely missing a concert, game, or event. She loved all sports - especially high school athletics, amateur baseball, softball, and even college rugby. Whether cheering from the stands, tuning in on the radio, or watching from home, she was a true fan!

Lois was the heart of her family, and nothing brought her more joy than gathering loved ones around the table. Whether it was happy hour, coffee hour, popcorn, or her brownies - there was always fun, and laughter, and memories created. She was known for her Sunday dinners and had a gift for planning. She was a driving force behind family reunions, holiday gatherings, and impromptu events. Lois and Dave truly cherished their lifelong friendships with their ‘bowling club’.

Lois is survived by her children: Denese (Todd) Gustafson of Clinton, MN; Mark (Cindy) Torgerson of Morris, MN; Dale (Beth) Torgerson of Sunburg, MN; and Janine (Jim) Teske of Clinton, MN; daughter-in-law, Heidi Torgerson of Clinton, MN; grandchildren: Jason (Jen) Gustafson, Jeremy (Regena) Gustafson, Lindsee (Jim) Ringsaker, Jacob Torgerson (Grace Atkinson), Mitchell Torgerson (Ariel Garvey), Rachel (Nick) Lahlum, Anna Torgerson, Samantha (Adam) Fischbach, Matthew (Kelsey) Torgerson, Maxwell (Samantha) Torgerson, Tanner Teske (Julie Drobny), and Tori Teske; great-grandchildren: Shayni, Reese, Everlie, Ellesyn, Griffin, Blakely, Piper, Lola, Maci, Briggs, Gwen, and Orrin; step-great-grandchildren: Cody Ringsaker (Amber Landowski); and Dustin (Kelsey) Ringsaker; and step-great-great-grandchildren: Reagan, Casper, Mattie, and Rhiley Ringsaker. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law: Amelia Hanson and Maryann Torgerson; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by husband, David; son, Eric; parents: Clarence and Marian Hanson; siblings: Kathryn Hart and Terry Lee Hanson; mother and father-in-law, Aane and Delores Torgerson; brothers and sisters-in-law: Robert (Virginia) Torgerson, Dean (LaVonne) Torgerson, John Paul Torgerson, Lowell (Lina) Torgerson, Phyllis (Charles) Peterson, and Joan (Allen) Olson.

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