Loren Charles 'Bus' Torgison, 83

Loren Charles "Bus" Torgison, 83, passed away early Thursday morning, Feb. 10, 2005, at the Montana Veteran's Home in Columbia Falls after an extended battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Bus was born on April 19, 1921, in Max, N.D., to Charles and Gladys Torgison. The family moved early in his life to the Flathead Valley in Montana where Bus and his seven brothers and sisters were raised, living at various times in Kalispell and Whitefish.

The Great Depression had a big impact on his family life. His father was a brakeman/conductor for the Great Northern Railroad and his mother was a homemaker. The family regularly hunted and fished to keep food on the table. Cutting wood to heat the home and to sell was also a large part of their existence. The outdoors was a second home to Bus and his friends.

Bus graduated from Whitefish High School in 1939. He worked on the railroad for a short time, but soon after the war started. Bus joined the Army and served in the European Theatre as a military policeman during World War II. He saw combat action during the Battle of the Bulge and entered the Buchenwald death camp shortly after Germany's liberation. The things he encountered during the war shaped him for the rest of his life. He served in Germany during its occupation until he was sent back to the states in 1946 where Bus continued to work as a military policeman teamed with the California Highway Patrol.

In 1947, Bus was discharged from the service and returned home to Whitefish, where he began to work for the Great Northern Railroad. It was at this time while playing baseball with the Whitefish local town team that he met Mary Carey. They dated, fell in love and married in May, 1949. They were unable to have children of their own, but raised two sons, John and Paul, whom they loved as their own.

Bus continued to live and work in Whitefish until his retirement in 1983. He resided at 426 West Fourth Street in Whitefish for 50 years until his illness made it impossible for him to stay at home.

Bus loved hunting, fishing, bowling and baseball. He was an avid follower of his sons' and grandchildren's sporting events. Bus loved to build and carpentry was his real passion. He spoke many times of how he would love to become a carpenter. He was always helping out in the local clubs such as the VFW of Whitefish and the Moose Home, and with his friends' and neighbors' building jobs. His services were always free and all he expected in return was a good cup of coffee and to be able to tell stories while he worked. He collected scrap lumber and created many projects that were always handed out to family and friends.

Bus was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Whitefish Moose Club and the Worn-out Wolves Coffee Club at the Buffalo Cafe.

Bus Torgison was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Gladys; a brother in infancy, Orville; his brothers, Glenn, Vernon (his twin), and Merle; and his sister, Ruby "Dolly" Newell.

Bus is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary; his two sons, John, and his wife, Kay, of Whitefish, and Paul, and wife, Colleen, of Polson; his brother, Don, of Libby; and his sister, Phyllis Howell, and her husband, Roy, of Yuma, Ariz. He is also survived by his grandsons, Rich Torgison and Mike Torgison, Jared Smith and Cameron Smith, Adam, Eamonn, and Logan Torgison; and his granddaughter, Keely Torgison. Also surviving him are two great-granddaughters, Tosha Torgison and Aspen Thorton, and one great-grandson, Garrett Smith.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Moose Home in Whitefish.

The family suggests that memorial gifts be given to the Montana Veterans Home Memorial Fund.

The family would like to extend their most profound appreciation to the nurses, doctors and staff of the Montana Veterans Home for the wonderful care provided for their father during his illness. "Your help, sensitivity, and loving manner was truly appreciated. Thank you very much."