David Torson

David Torson of Fargo, ND passed away at Bethany Homes on Saturday, July 2nd. He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Grace Torson, his sister Josephine, his brother Ralph, his first wife Janice, his second wife May, and his step-daughter Susan Lokken. He is survived by his brother Frank Torson Sue, his sister-in-law Ruth Torson, his daughters Jane Torson Tom Reinertson and Nancy Torson Rick Stern, and his grandson Adam Torson. He was also blessed with step-daughter Nancee Chester, granddaughter-in-law Elena Dagit John, two great-granddaughters-in-law, four step-grandchildren, and 6 step-great-grandchildren.

David was born in Park Ridge, IL on October 22nd, 1928. As a child he lived in Wisconsin Dells before moving to Moorhead, where he graduated from Moorhead High School in 1946. He first attended MSUM and later transferred to NDSU, where he excelled in basketball and would later be inducted into the Hall of Fame. After college, he married Janice Glasgow, and both became teachers in Hillsborough, where he coached the football and basketball teams to great success. Shortly he was drafted into the Army, for which he played basketball and served as a physical therapist at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After his Army service, David entered the Fargo-Moorhead business community of which he would be an active member for decades. He sold insurance first for New York Life, and was subsequently the general agent for Western States Life Insurance, where he led “the Torson Team,” and earned honors including many Million Dollar Round Table Awards. He was also an entrepreneur, notably helping to found the Speakeasy in Moorhead and the Davon Press in West Fargo, publisher of the Midweek Eagle. He was also an active member of community organizations, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Kiwanis, and NDSU Teammakers. In 1982 he married May Anderson, with whom he remained until her passing in 2015.

In his personal life, he loved to spend time at Pelican Lake, sing in the choir of the First Congregational Church of Moorhead, and cheer the Minnesota Vikings and NDSU Bison athletics. He was an avid golfer, and served as President of the Moorhead Country Club and the Fargo Country Club, and was a member of Oxbow Country Club. His family will miss his legendary charisma, his sense of humor, and his insuppressible optimism.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 6th at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Moorhead. Visitation will begin at 10:00am and the service will begin at 11:00am. Please direct memorials to First Congregational Church of Moorhead. His family would like to thank his wonderful caregivers at Bethany of Fargo.