Lois Ann Torkelson-Jensen's Obituary
Lois was born on Sept 28, 1924 in Highbridge, WI to Ebben and Catherine Dayton and passed away on Aug 6, 2015 in Tacoma, WA. After graduating from Mellon High School in 1943, she moved with her parents to Puyallup, WA where she met and married her first husband and father of her three children Freddie Torkelson. She was married to Freddie for 40 years before his death in 1984. Lois would then reunite with her high school sweetheart, Carl Jensen and they were married for 18 years until he passed in 2004.
Lois lived a simple life with her greatest joy being a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was also known as “grandma” to many people she befriended throughout the years.
The majority of her life was spent as a homemaker but over the years she had been employed by Nalley’s Fine Foods, North Star Glove Factory and Item House Coat Factory. In her early 50s, she went back to school at Clover Park Vocational Technical Institute where she received certification to work as a teacher’s aide. She then became employed by Tacoma School District and was loved by many students and teachers. She was also in her early 50s when she learned to drive and received her first drivers license.
Lois is preceded in death by her parents Ebben and Catherine Dayton, brother Eben Dayton, sisters Margaret Nordquist and Mary Howe, husbands Freddie Torkelson and Carl Jensen and by her beloved son Stanley Torkelson. She leaves behind daughters Nancy McGinnis (John), Cathy Thompson (Greg), four grandchildren Rachelle McGinnis, Jeffrey Thompson (Stephanie), Jennifer Thompson (Kyndra), Jason Thompson (Stacie), five beautiful great-grandchildren Alexis, Archer, Abram, Madison and Brooke. She also leaves behind two great-granddaughters yet to be born, Maysa due in October and Hadley due in December.
Lois had a deep faith and was a proud member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Alter Society for the past 62 years.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 14th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (4520 McKinley Ave, Tacoma) at 11:00 a.m. Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the family asks contributions Sacred Heart Alter Society or to your favorite charity.
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