Torris M. Bakken

A Funeral Service for Torris M. Bakken of Roseau, MN will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Messiah Lutheran Church in Roseau, MN. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 from 5-7PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, MN with a prayer service at 7PM. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held at Norland Cemetery at a later date.

Torris passed away on Friday, January 25, 2019 at the age of 82.

Torris Milo Bakken was born on August 22, 1936 to Sig and Anna (Smedsmo) Bakken at home on the farm in Spruce Township. He attended country school growing up and graduated from Roseau High School in 1954. Torris worked several jobs after high school before enlisting in the Army. He waited for his older brother’s discharge before he was able to enlist and served from 1954 – 1956 followed by four years in the Army reserve.

Torris married Barbara Knochenmus and had two sons; Craig and Jeff.  In 1966 he began working at Roseau Electric Cooperative as a Lineman and retired as a Line Foreman in 1999, after 33 years of dedicated service.   In June of 1994 Torris married Sue and was the love of her life and added Kristy and Val to his family.

Torris was a true sportsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and anything he could do outdoors which included tending to his garden. He was a member of the American Legion, the Forty and Eight, NRA, and Deer Hunters Association. He served on the boards of the Spruce Township and the Four Season’s Center and was a member of Spruce and Messiah church.  Torris loved his grandchildren, it was very important to him to spend time teaching them and passing on his love for the great outdoors.

Torris is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Sadie and Thelma, infant brother and brother-in-law’s, Marlin, Bob and Ted.

There was no Norwegian prouder of his heritage than Torris.  He is survived by his loving wife Sue; sons, Craig Bakken of Roseau, MN, Jeff Bakken of Roseau, MN; step-daughters, Kristy McFarlane of Maple Grove, MN, Val (Bruce) Olson of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren, Jacqueline Bakken of Fargo, ND, Brittany (Brett) Bakken of Gilbert, MN, Peyton Olson of Grand Forks, ND, Ean Olson of Thief River Falls, MN, Mitchell Green of Maple Grove, MN, Vienna Green of Maple Grove, MN; great-grandchildren, Asher, Harlow, Sawyer; siblings, Einar (Marlene), Alma Stotts, Sonja Heyen, Anita (Raymond) Dunham; brother in –law, Orvis Olson as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

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