Robert Torkelson 80, of Oklee, MN passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Essentia Living Health in Fosston, MN.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at Salem Lutheran Church at 2:00 PM with Reverend Margaret Jacobus Officiating. Burial will be held at Clearwater Church Cemetery rural Oklee, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday before the service.

Robert Leroy Torkelson was born June 1, 1936 at the Salvation Army Home, St. Paul, MN son of Margaret Torkelson. When he was 3 months old his mother brought him to Oklee. When he was about 8 years old his mother married Frank Linder and Robert came to live on the farm in Garnes Township.

Robert raised a flock of sheep in his teen years. Selling the wool and lambs for spending money. He enjoyed hunting for rabbits and often took some of his cousins along. Robert graduated from Oklee High School in 1955. After high school he worked various jobs in Montana, Iron Range, custom combining, driving milk truck. In the mid 60's he purchased the property in Equality Township and put up a fence line. He moved the beef cattle he had in Garnes to the new pasture and thus began his beef cattle operation. The place in Equality was his home until retirement in 2006 after which he moved to Oklee.

Robert was a gentle man who took good care of his cattle, mules, dogs. He liked visiting with neighbors and friends – stopping for a good cup of coffee and may be a cookie or two! And, the coffee pot was always ready for all who stopped to visit him!

In April of 1991 he met Gloria Griffin of Northwood, ND. They married on June 14, 1993 at Post Falls, ID and enjoyed their life together on the farm. In retirement they traveled some including country western concerts at Sandstone, MN. A favorite place to stay was the North shore of Lake Superior.

Robert was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and served on the Red Lake County Watershed Board.

Robert is survived by his wife, Gloria; a step-son, Jerry Griffin of Cottage Grove, MN; brothers-Ronald Linder (Martha Vincent) of Plummer, MN; Galen Linder (Val Eisman) of Portland, OR; Steve (Donna) Linder of Oklee, MN; James Linder of Trail, MN; sisters-in-law, LaVonne (Dan) Enfield of Sharon, ND; Sherie (Danny Scammel) Kleven of Post Falls, ID; an aunt, Inga Linder of Plummer, MN; along with many nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and his special pet cat, Bandit.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Margaret Linder, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and special friends.