Herman Gilbert Torkelson. 98, of Horton, Kansas went home to be with our Lord on May 9, 2017 at the Mission Village Living Center in Horton, Kansas.

Herman was born shortly before midnight on January 10, 1919 in the Torkelson farmhouse north of Everest, Kansas to Tonnes & Ella Mae Olson Torkelson. Herman was the 4th of 5 children.

He was baptized, confirmed and a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church, attended and graduated from Marak School, and was a member of 4-H. He was selected as the Kansas Holstein Young Man of the Year in the 1930’s, going to San Francisco on the State of Kansas Dairy Judging Team.

He grew up and worked on the family farm with his father and brothers. On November 20, 1939, he married Leola Mary Edwardson and to that union, five children were born, Suanne(Jim)Hoffman, Thomas (Judy) Torkelson, Ronald (Connie) Torkelson, Joanne(Jim)Burns and Janice (David)Crider.

Herman acquired the Torkelson family farm after their marriage and had many prized Holstein cows. Herman and Leola were involved in 4-H as Community Leaders for many years. Herman was the Superintendent of the Dairy Department for the Brown County Fair, along with Carl Knudson from approximately 1940-1963. Leola died in a car accident on May 16, 1963. Herman & Leola would have celebrated their 24th Wedding Anniversary that following November. They had 12 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 4 great, great-grandchildren( Jeffery Michael Hedrick-deceased.)

On December 29, 1967, Herman married Nanette Wallace. One step-son and four step-daughters joined the Torkelson family- William(Susie )Wallace III, Rachael(Gene) Gormley, Jennifer(Barry)Russell , Debbie Dunagan and Elma Wallace with 14 grandchildren(Tyson Langdon-deceased)and 27 great-grandchildren. Herman and Nan owned and operated Horton Bowl & Torkelson Liquor and during those years were members of the Horton Chamber of Commerce. Herman was a member of the 1971 State Bowling Championship Team (Team K & T Cows).

For years, they were caretakers for lakes and campsites at Melvern, Milford and Horton Lakes, where they loved fishing & welcoming campers .

Dominos and card games were played by family & friends with Herman & Nan through the years. For 10 years, they enjoyed going to McAllen, Texas for the winter.

Nanette passed away on June 28, 2015. They would have celebrated their 48th Wedding Anniversary that December. Herman was a committed husband and father and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

The family will greet friends on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. at the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton, Kansas.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the Zion Lutheran Church, north of Everest. Burial will be at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be made to NEK Hospice, the Zion Lutheran Church or Mission Village Living Center and may be sent in care of the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton.

A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com