65134_Burnette_Torgersen
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Burnette Togersen, Sept. 18, 1915-Jan. 26, 2013.
A first generation Danish-American, Burnette was born to Iowa farmers Edith and Lars Jensen. She quit schooling in the eighth grade to work in the kitchen feeding the farm hands on the China Ranch, named because her family hired Chinese immigrants to work the fields.
She married Elvin Togersen, a carpenter, at 23, and was wife and mother to two children. She and Elvin owned a restaurant in Ringsted, Iowa, where she did it all, which better prepared her for the duties of homemaker. After her husband passed she decided to relocate to Arizona, but visited California and never left until her abrupt passing. She enjoyed “The Price is Right,” gardening, baking, bingo and the slot machines with her family in Tucson.
She is survived by son, Gary, San Jose, Calif.; grandchildren, Tammy (William) Vetter, Travis Ellis, Missouri, Brad Togersen, California, Elissa (Darrell) Kieser, Missouri, and Dr. Jessica Ellis, Iowa; also by twin sister Bernice Pedersen, Tucson, Ariz.; and niece Lois (Glenn) Kenney and nephew Larry (Barbara) Jensen; as well as four great-grandchildren: Sara, Zac, Mason Ellis and Gabrielle Stanley, all of Missouri; and a great-great-grandchild, Leland James Ellis (Sara’s new baby).
She was preceded in death by husband, Elvin Togersen, January 1972; and daughter, Patricia Ellis, January 2012.