Susan Torkelson, age 53, of Thief River Falls, MN died on Friday, November 2, 2012, at her residence in Thief River Falls. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at St. John Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN, with Pastor Aaron Zuch officiating. Burial will follow at Clearwater Cemetery, rural Oklee, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Wednesday at the church. Susan Gail Johnson Torkelson was born on June 6, 1959 in Thief River Falls, MN, the daughter of Marlyn Johnson and Bernice (Sorenson) Johnson. She was baptized and confirmed at Clearwater Lutheran Church in rural Oklee, MN. Susan attended school in Oklee, graduating from Oklee High School in 1977. Following high school, Susan went to work in Thief River Falls, MN at Northwest Medical Center. On June 20, 1981, Susan took Larry Torkelson's hand in marriage at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plummer, MN. To this union three children were born, Lucas, Brian, and Lindsy. In 1986 Susan and her family moved to Wilmar, MN. It was there that she attended Ridgewater Technical College and received a Human Service Technician degree. While in school she worked in a group home taking excellent care of the residents there. In 1989 the family moved back to the area and purchased a home in Plummer, MN. Susan was presently employed by Prairie Community Services in Thief River Falls. She loved her clients at Riverwood and Oakwood. Susan's first priority in life was her family. She enjoyed preparing meals and baking for them. She always said, "If you don't have family, you don't have anything." Susan was always willing to help anyone in need. She had a very giving personality. In her free time she enjoyed cross stich, reading and couponing, and refunding. She and her daughter Lindsy took frequent drives together in which they would confide in each other and solve their problems together. Susan is survived by her three children, Lucas Torkelson, Brian Torkelson, and Lindsy Torkelson, of Thief River Falls, MN; mother, Bernice Klenk of Middle River, MN; sisters, Cindy (Dale) Bjerklie of Trail, MN, Colleen (Frank) Knight, of Orlando, FL, and Melissa Chinn of Pine City, MN; special nephew, Ryan Longtin of Orlando, FL; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Arlene (Gary) Anderson, Red Lake Falls, MN, Carla (Ralph) Landman, Red Lake Falls, MN, and Dianne (Jesse) Cassavan, Red Lake Falls, MN; LeRoy Torkelson, Plummer, MN, Carl Torkelson Jr., Plummer, MN, Dean (Joy) Torkelson, Plummer, MN, and Dennis (Angie) Torkelson of Shevlin, MN, Donald Longtin, Plummer, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Larry Torkelson who passed away on February 12, 2012; father, Marlyn Johnson; step-father, Laverne Klenk; grandparents, Lloyd and Lillian Johnson and Ralph and Helen Sorenson.