Allen Torke

WOOD LAKE–Allen Torke, age 72, of Wood Lake, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Memorial service will be held on Friday, February 14th, at 1:00 pm at Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls. Visitation will be held on Thursday evening from 5 to 7 pm, with a prayer service at 6:30 pm, at the Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church and continue one hour prior to the service on Friday. Arrangements with Wing-Bain Funeral Home

Allen Bruce Torke was born May 10, 1952 in Granite Falls, Minnesota to Bennett and Adeline (Anderson) Torke. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls and attended Wood Lake Public school. Allen attended the Willmar Vo-Tech for diesel mechanic and went to work for Olson and Johnson in Marshall.

On February 22, 1975 Allen was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Paulson at the Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church. He joined the Hanley Falls Fire Department and served as asst. chief and chief a majority of those years. Along with being the one of the original founders of the HF first responders and retiring after 31 years. In Allen’s spare time he took pride in servicing trucks for Gary Kotek, Dallas Schroeder and Howard and Rodney Bennett. He then went to work for Bennett and Bennett Transportation manager for the GFC/Yellow Medicine East school district. In that time, he joined his dad with the family farm and eventually took over. Allen proudly served the Equity Elevator and Trading for 12 years, and was the board president those years. He was very active with the YMLC as a council member, cemetery board member and being an usher. After managing the bus’ for several years he walked across the yard and joined Minnesota Feeds. On his runs, he made many new friends and had to tell about his cheap meals at the local cafe’s and meat markets.

After Allen’s retirement, he enjoyed fishing with his buddies, spending time with his family, driving around checking crops, farming beside his son, water fights, talking to friends, checking the location of his family on ‘Find my Friends’, cooking, golfing, bowling, HF card club, dirt track races, going to Puerto Vallarta, and socializing with anyone he could see. He also went to work for Dwayne Erickson. His knowledge of people, both far and near was valued by many; as well as his expertise of the Cam Cummins engine. Allen was known to many as Tork, YaYa and Chief.

He is survived by his wife, Barb, of 50 years; his children, Tara Torke (Paul Nelson) of Burnsville, Alison Bakkelund (Aaron) of Hanley Falls and Brooks Torke (Amy) of Wood Lake; grandchildren, Samantha, Jakob Pringle (special friend, Shelby Gravely) of Hanley Falls, Janessa Bakkelund (special friend, Michael Wiederich) of Hanley Falls, Tia and Ella Nelson, Brantley and Ryn Torke; sister, Beth Fischer of Shakopee; Uncle Douglas Anderson of Marshall; and many in-laws, cousins and nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Heather Torke; parents, Bennett and Adeline Torke; mother and father-in-law, Art and Shirley Paulson; sister-in-law, Cathy Paulson; brother-in-law, Melvin Fischer; and Uncle Wally (Aunt Barb) Anderson.