Frances Ann 'Torg' Sorensen, 82
Frances Ann "Torg" Sorensen died on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at the age of 82, in Burnsville, Minn.
Frances was born in Grand Forks, N.D., on June 19, 1926, to William and Isabel Torgeson. She was the youngest of three daughters. She had many fond memories of growing up in Grand Forks and considered herself fortunate for all of her experiences.
Her love of music was well known to all of her friends and family. She played clarinet in the Kryl's All Girl Symphony that toured throughout the United States during the summer and fall of 1942. She attended and graduated from the University of North Dakota with degrees in music and education. At UND she was the president of the UND band and belonged to the Tri Delta sorority.
After she was married in Grand Forks, she lived in Grafton, N.D., and Spokane. But she ultimately called Kalispell home.
Frances was a band instructor for 18 years in Montana, from 1976 to 1994. She taught beginning band students and full bands in fifth, sixth and seventh grades at Evergreen school for four years. Later she became a full-time band teacher in Kalispell, where for the first few years she worked with the beginning students from all five elementary schools (Russell, Hedges, Edgerton, Peterson and Elrod). She expanded her teaching to seventh grade students at Linderman Middle School before she retired.
Frances was very active in the community, playing in the Flathead Valley Community Band, community college musicals, and many different ensembles. She also taught Sunday school for many years at the United Methodist Church. Through her music and teaching she met several lifelong friends.
In June of 2007, she moved to Burnsville, Minn., to be closer to her family. She was able to share in many family celebrations, along with attending her grandchildren's school and sports events. She enjoyed experiencing many kinds of musical performances around the Twin Cities area. She also enjoyed visits from friends from Montana. In the recent months she has been lovingly cared for by the staff at Carefree Living in Burnsville. Many thanks go out to all those who appreciated her sense of humor and treated her with dignity and love.
Frances has three sons, William Edward Sorensen of Strasburg, Ohio, David John Sorensen of Duluth, Minn., and James Lee Sorensen of Burnsville. She was blessed with seven grandchildren, Carolyn Ann, William, Matthew, Laura, Michael, Whitney and Kurtis; and three great-grandchildren, Joel, Makayla and Gabriel. She had a great fondness for each of them and they always looked forward to when "Grandma Torg" would come and visit. She always made each of them know how special and loved they were. Torg will also be fondly remembered by her daughters-in-law, Jeanne, Anita, Julie, and Jennifer.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents; and her two sisters, Barbara Harber and Alice Pitcher.
She is survived by her sons; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Frances will be interred at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 17, with a potluck to follow at Faith Free Lutheran Church, 405 Liberty St., in Kalispell.