Marjorie S. Torkelson

Marjorie Torkelson, 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Eventide in Fargo, ND. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, March 2, 10:30 A.M, at First Lutheran Church, Fargo. A visitation will be held at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 1, with a prayer service following at 7:00.

Marjorie Sarah Skaff Torkelson was born on August 10, 1923, the youngest of five children, to immigrant Lebanese parents, Mary and Ferris Skaff. The family lived in Bismarck, and moved to McClusky, ND, where Marjorie attended school and graduated in 1941. After graduation, she attended Interstate Business College in Fargo. She then worked at the State Capital in the Motor Vehicle Department. She married Ernest Rodney Torkelson from Turtle Lake, ND, in December, 1944. They were blessed with three children. The family moved to Bismarck and eventually to Fargo. Marjorie worked in sales, and primarily in real estate, which she loved. She was a proud member of the Board of Realtors, and the Ambassadors of Fargo Moorhead for many years. She received numerous awards for all of her hard work in real estate.

Marjorie had a very strong faith in God, which she instilled in her children and grandchildren. She was a devoted member of First Lutheran Church for nearly 60 years, and she especially loved her Wednesday Fellowship group.

Marjorie had a special zest for life. She enjoyed traveling and visiting with family and friends. She was a wonderful hostess and cook, who loved to entertain family and friends and shower them with her delicious Lebanese dishes. She had boundless love for her children and family, and was so very proud of them all. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Marjorie is preceded in death by her parents, brothers George Skaff and Sam Skaff, Sr., sisters Freda Homsey and Genevieve Abraham. She is survived by her children, Gail (Rich) Grabow, Detroit Lakes, MN; Rod (LuAnn) Torkelson, Surprise, AZ; and Bruce (Char) Torkelson, Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Dan (Carol) Grabow, Jennifer (David) Perry, Kelsey Grabow, Nick (Whitney) Grabow, Nancy (Erik) Erwin, Jason Torkelson, and Joel Torkelson; great-grandchildren, Charlie, Ellie, Cora, Dawson, Brekken, Emmie, Isabella, Isaac, and Lilliana. She is also survived by her cousin, Violet Nicola, and many nieces and nephews.