Thomas Dean Torgerson

Thomas "Tom" Torgerson, age 64 of St. Cloud, formerly Glenwood, died unexpectedly, yet peacefully, on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at his home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19th at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in the Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. 

Thomas Dean Torgerson, the first of Donald and Kay Torgerson’s five children, was born September 23, 1957 in Ada, Minnesota. He grew up in Glenwood where he attended school and was a member of Glenwood Lutheran Church, serving as an acolyte for several years. He graduated from Glenwood High School in 1976. Tom furthered his education at St. Cloud State University receiving bachelor degrees in both Accounting and Information Systems.

Tom was employed with the State of Minnesota for over 27 years, first in the Hibbing area then St. Cloud and Moorhead. While working with the International Study Abroad Program, he loved learning about the various cultures and treasured the friendships he made along the way. During this time he enjoyed traveling to England and Korea. After he retired he returned to Glenwood for a few years before moving back to St. Cloud.

As the son of an industrial arts teacher, Tom learned carpentry from his father. He was quite accomplished, building things such as fish houses, canoes, kayaks and adirondack furniture. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting of all types (i.e. elk, deer, bear, antelope, pheasant, and duck), fishing, and BWCA camping trips. He loved reading any book he could get his hands on. Over the years Tom developed a passion for cooking and planning meals for family gatherings. Never one to embrace moderation, he would cook in mass quantities. His specialties were lefse, chicken wild rice soup, venison chili, salsa, chocolate peanut butter Ritz cookies, and porketta, to name a few. 

Tom will be remembered as someone who was kind, generous and went out of his way for others. His enjoyment of hunting and BWCA trips was enhanced whenever he had the opportunity to introduce someone new to those experiences; he found it more enjoyable watching their reactions to catching a fish or shooting game than actually doing those things himself. He really loved spending time with his family, including his nieces and nephews. Oftentimes they played board games; Tom’s favorite was Aggravation.

Tom is survived by his mother, Kay Torgerson of Glenwood; sisters: Jamie (Mark) Commerford of Fridley, and Lisa (Mark) Wilmot of Inver Grove Heights; brother, Tony (Michele) Torgerson of St. Cloud; nieces and nephews, Kelly (Ben) Sabel, Matt (Justine) Commerford, Chris Wilmot, Tim Wilmot, Sophie Torgerson, and John Torgerson; great-nieces and nephews: Owen, Izzy, Maggie, Ellie and Teddy; along with other relatives and many friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Donald Torgerson in 2012, and his brother, Tim “Tigger” Torgerson in 1980.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.