Mary Carey Torgison, 92
Mary C. Torgison quietly passed away Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at the age of 92, while residing at St. Luke's Extended Care in Ronan.
She was born in Wayzata, Minn., on April 30, 1919, to John and Pauline Carey, the second daughter in a four-girl family. They lived and recreated at their home on the shores of Parker's Lake.
Along with her sisters, Mary grew up during the Great Depression. They entertained themselves with fishing, swimming and skating. She was a self-described “tomboy” who loved a good practical joke. Mary was the senior editor of her school annual and graduated from Wayzata High School in 1937.
She enrolled in Eitel Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis after high school and graduated as a registered nurse in 1940. During World War II, she moved to Portland with two of her good friends.
After the war, Mary followed them to Whitefish where she worked at North Valley Hospital as the head surgical nurse for many years. It was there that she met her future husband, Loren “Bus” Torgison, after attending a town baseball game in which he had played.
Bus worked on the railroad and together they raised two sons, John, who followed his father's footsteps and worked on the railroad, and Paul, who was a special education teacher. Mary retired from her hospital job in 1975 to help raise her grandchildren. Her family always came first.
Mary loved to garden, follow local sporting events and read. She always had her nose in a “good book.” Mary was an excellent cook who enjoyed fixing meals for her family, making sure that all the kids were well fed. She was also an avid dog person, spending much time spoiling her favorite basset hound, Frank.
Mary was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church in Whitefish. She was also a member of the North Valley Hospital Guild and a member of the Ladies of the Moose.
As Mary's health declined, she moved to Evergreen Assisted Living Home in Kalispell. She spent her final days in the residence of St. Luke's Extended Care in Ronan.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, John and Pauline Carey; her sisters, Helen Ellis, Bernice Wheeler and Grace Eisinger; her husband, Loren; son, John; and nephew, Doug Eisinger.
She is survived by her son, Paul, his wife, Colleen, of Polson, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish.
The family would like to extend their personal, heartfelt thanks to the ladies who worked with Mary at St. Luke's Extended Care. Their special care and loving ways helped fill Mary's final days with dignity, joy and respect.