Anna "Ann" Mae Torgerson

Anna M. Torgerson, 91, passed away at Golden Years Nursing Home in Lake Geneva on Easter Sunday.

She was born April 30,1931 in Elliott, Ransom County, North Dakota to the late Francis and Anastasia (Palensky) Ficenec.

On July 7, 1953 she married Kenneth Torgerson in Saint Arnold’s Catholic Church in Milnor, North Dakota. She made her own wedding dress while she waited for Ken’s return from service in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. They moved to Lake Geneva and then to Lyons Township to raise their family. After Ken retired, they wintered in Mission, TX where she was a member of the Green Bees Quilt Guild.

Anna was a member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyons. She was a former 4-H leader and taught sewing to her daughters and other young girls in the community. She made the majority of her children’s clothes and discovered a passion for making quilts, which she gifted to loved ones. She was active in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Alzheimer’s Association. She worked at Welker’s Fabric Store and at Geneva Lake Upholstery.

Anna is survived by sisters Mary Olson, Dorothy Gilk, Alice Reiff, brother Joe (Audrey) Ficenec and Veronica Ficenec; three daughters, Kathryn (Jim) Powell of Lake Geneva, WI, Janice (Dennis) Gibbs of Tucson, AZ, and Sharon (Gregg) Smith of Easley, SC; one son, David of Lake Geneva, WI; seven grandchildren, James (Heather) Smith, Michael (Danyel) Torgerson, Ryan (Heather) Torgerson, Kristin (Vinnie) Domino, Todd Hill, Natalie (Christopher Zdenek) Hill; eight great-grand-children, Ethan, Alexis, Audrey, Nora, Rhys, Vinnie, Leo and Charlotte; and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Ken, sister Helen Beyer, brother Francis “Frankie” Ficenec, brothers-in-law Herman Beyer, Irving Olson, Jack Gilk, and grandson Brandon Gibbs.

Anna was a great example for us all: practicing patience (most of the time), uncomplaining in the face of great obstacles, ongoing commitment to her interests, and participating in life as much as one can.

The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Arbor Village Assisted Living, Golden Years Nursing Home, and Aurora at Home Hospice for their extraordinary care and love over these years.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday, April 19 at Derrick Funeral Home in Lake Geneva. Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 20, at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyons. Memorials may be made to the Wisconsin Parkinson Association or Aurora at Home Hospice.

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Derick Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Torgerson family.

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