Janice Emily (Kind) Torseth

Janice E. (Kind) Torseth, 88, of Hager City, WI died on Monday, November 29, 2021.

Janice was born in Red Wing, MN on February 4, 1933 to Albert and Louise (Fischer) Kind.  She grew up on the family farm in Hager City, WI. She graduated from Ellsworth High School with the class of 1951.

Janice married her husband, Marlin Torseth, on November 5, 1953 and they dairy farmed until 1976 in Bay City, WI.  She had numerous other jobs along the way – working in banking, at the Pierce County Register of Deeds office and co-owner of Svea Store & Flowers with her husband where she designed beautiful floral arrangements for homecomings, funerals, and weddings (including all three of her daughters).  She also served as treasurer in Isabelle and Trenton Townships for many years.  Janice was a 4-H leader for over 30 years, 16 years as general leader of the Hi-Lites 4-H club with her husband.  She and her husband also enjoyed sponsoring womens and coed slow-pitch softball teams in Ellsworth and River Falls and sometimes played themselves.

Janice was an active member of Svea Lutheran Church where she was the organist for 45 years. She played for the church choir, weddings, funerals, and at the Ellsworth Assisted Living facility.  Janice was an assistant organist at Svea while in high school and organist at Eidsvold Lutheran Church early in her marriage.  She was proud to be a confirmation youth mentor to Julia Girdeen.   Janice knitted prayer shawls that have been given to many people in the area.  The Christmas lights on Svea Church held a special place in her heart. It started with her dad being part of stringing the first set of Christmas lights onto the church, to now, with the new lights being installed as a memorial gift for her husband, Marlin.

She was preceded in death by her husband and partner in life of 63 years, Marlin, who has been taking care of their unborn baby in heaven; parents; brothers, Robert and wife, Lois Kind and Donald Kind; sister-in-law, Sandra Kind; granddaughter, Mallory Goral; and brothers-in-law, Lowell and wife, Elaine Torseth and Merlin Torseth, and sister-in-law Darlene Hagen.

Janice is survived by her proudest accomplishments, her 4 children; daughters, Wendy Torseth-Masel and grandchildren, Logan, Wyatt (fiance, Mary Antolak) and Celia Masel; Linda (Kent) Orwoll and granddaughter, Caroline Orwoll; Susan (Gary) Goral and grandchildren, Sara (Drew) Mahlik, Jennifer (Ryan) Reuter, Hanna Goral and Alex Goral; and son, Peter (Traci) Torseth and grandchildren, Autumn and Isaac Lien; and great granddaughters, Rey and Wren Mahlik and Collins Reuter.  She is also survived by brothers, Peter Kind, Bill (Connie) Kind, Joe (Pat) Kind and sister-in-law Maureen Kind; many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and family.

Special thank you goes out to Karl, Michelle, Olivia, Julia & Andrew Girdeen for all that you did to allow mom and dad to live at their home longer.  To the people at Svea Lutheran Church, in mom’s own words, “So much fun to be with.  It was a good time!”  Also, to Shirley Bostrom, for the thoughtful letter recognizing mom’s work in the church.

Memorial service will be 12:00 PM Saturday, June 11 at Svea Lutheran Church-Hager City, with Pastor Jason Clifton officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m.-noon at the church. Interment for family will be at Svea Lutheran Church Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the discretion of Janice’s family.