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Lazarus Project

An expanded obituary project of MennObits.  Includes additional information of obituaries appearing in
The Mennonite and other newspapers.   Source of individual obituaries given with each record.  Project managed by Thelma Martin.

 2003 - T to V



Tieszen, Simon P. ; . . Torkelson, Kenneth L. ; . .

Tieszen, Simon P., 99, of Richey, Montana, died December 30, 2003 at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney, Montana. He was born on May 23, 1904 near Marion, South Dakota, to Peter K. and Susanna (Deckert) Tieszen. The family moved to Driscoll, North Dakota in 1907. In the spring of 1913, Simon came to Montana with his family and settled on a farm in the Richey area. He received his elementary education at the Divide School and worked hard on the family farm. Simon was united in marriage to Esther Loewen on July 18, 1934. Simon was baptized on August 31, 1919 by Reverend J.M. Franz and became a member of the Bethlehem Mennonite Church.

Survived by his wife of 69 years, Esther, of Richey; his son, Richard Tieszen and his wife Ellagene of Richey; four grandchildren, Martha, Rockcie, Susanna and Ricky; eight great grandchildren; one sister, Marie Hanson and her husband Sig of Tracy, California; numerous nieces and nephews.

Simon was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Eva in 1921, Susie Janke in 1944 and Catherine in 1987.

Funeral services were January 5, 2004 at the Bethlehem Mennonite Church in Bloomfield with Pastor Darrell Nefzger officiating. Interment will be in the Bethlehem Mennonite Cemetery in Bloomfield. Oregon

Source: Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home Glendive, MT
Submitted by: Leon Hertzler


Torkelson, Kenneth L., 74, of La Grande, OR died July 13, 2003 at his home. He was born Oct. 25, 1928, to Severt E. and Rosa Eggers Torkelson in Duchess, Alberta, Canada. On Oct. 9, 1949, married Grace Lauver in Duchess, Alberta. They moved to La Grande in 1988. He was a member of the Grande Ronde Mennonite Church in Cove, OR.

Survivors include his wife Grace of La Grande; children and their spouses, Bettyanne and David Gingerich of Shedd, Earl Torkelson of Brooks, Alberta, Canada, Phyllis and Menno Amendt, and Charlene and George Amendt, all of Danskin, British Columbia, Canada, Kelvin and Donna Torkelson of La Grande, Allen and Crystal Torkelson of Duchess, and Kent and Amy Torkelson of Boise; 22 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Norman Torkelson of Duchess, and other relatives.

Two daughters, Arlene and Violet, and five brothers all died earlier.

Funeral was July 25, 2003 at the Church of the Nazarene, with Harley Kauffman of the Grande Ronde Mennonite Church officiating. Burial was at Cove Cemetery.

Source: The Observer Union-Wallowa
Counties Newsleader, La Grande, OR
Submitted by Leon Hertzler

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