Lois Arlene Torgerson n�e BakerMarch 28, 1925 – September 12, 2016Our beloved mother, age 91, eased gently from this life very unexpectedly in a favorite chair, her kitty nearby, in the home she cherished for 50+ years. She grew up on the farm with her two sisters; they were horse crazy, but she was not and her nose was often buried in books. After the Depression, she lost her taste for eggs and milk, which had helped carry the family through. In 1946, after the war, she married her high school sweetheart, Thomas William Torgerson, and they settled in Indianapolis to raise a family. They had a happy, active life together until his untimely death in 1973. She married her high school friend Harry Miller several years later, and his outgoing kind nature helped make life interesting again, she said. They shared road trips, family feasts, socializing, and all the stuff of daily living, until his passing on Christmas Eve, 2014.Over the years, she enjoyed family camping with Tom and the children, weekends on the farm, the hiking club, Silver Sneakers, trips with Harry, hunting morels, reading of far off places, playing cards and Scrabble, and taking up activities with many friends. She loved to write letters as well as poems for special occasions.She took college entrance courses in high school but didn’t go on to college. Her continuing education courses included how to talk to anyone about anything, medical terminology, and conversational French. Her strong work ethic included many administrative jobs: Charles Mayer, L.F. Morrison, Indiana Bank, Williams Tone & Engineering, Electronic Laboratories, National Concrete Fireproofing (now Huber Hunt & Nichols Engineering (defense projects), Anthony Wayne Pump Co., J. Gordon Turnbull, Shirley Corporation, Griffith Distributing, Stanley Van Camp (1/2 day), and the Arthritis Foundation. She was secretary-treasurer at Indiana Farmers Union for many years. After retirement she went back to work as a financial aide at St. Vincent’s, becoming their oldest employee ever put on the payroll. She left at age 77.She made many road trips to California, Arizona, and Canada. Her big dream happened: going to Alaska, flying to Anchorage and driving around with her children. She wanted to through-hike the Appalachian Trail, we learned only recently, and always cut out clippings on those who wrote about their experiences along the trail. She didn’t like to fly over water, so Europe and Hawaii weren’t in her radar. But Patagonia was still on her list, as well as some place to watch the Northern Lights. Among her favorite books: The Old Patagonian Express by Paul Theroux, What Is the What, by Dave Egger, and books by Barbara Kingsolver.Her boss at National Concrete said she should buy savings bonds, which she did, renewing them again and again before passing them to her children.Three weeks ago, she returned refreshed from a road trip to some of her favorite places, Utah and the Bay Area of California, and was so happy to see the greenery of Indiana and her kitty, Miss Priss. She was a kind, strong person, frugal, independent, private, and fiercely loyal to her family and friends. Up to the end she was still driving, pulling weeds, and figuring out what she wanted to do next. Although a lifelong Republican, she planned to vote for Hillary. At her request, no formal service will be held.She was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents May Hoesel Baker and Hugh C. Baker, her sister Wilma Miller and husband Bill Miller. She is survived by her children, Thomas Mark Torgerson (Ruth Deubelbeiss) and Kimberly Torgerson (Robert Madera), her sister Jeannie Jones, and an extended circle of relatives. We will miss her and her youthful spirit so very much. She liked to visit her friends and family at the cemeteries, reminiscing. Her ashes will be buried in Winamac, next to her first husband, parents, and stillborn twin daughter.Condolences are welcome at home or http://bit.ly/2cOQnBd.� Contributions in her memory are welcome to Zionsville United Methodist Church or the Indianapolis Humane Society.
