When Torr would buy cigs from a machine when the pack came out he would scream, “I won! I won!” and jump around like he was on The Price is Right waving the pack around.
Back in the early 70s during the asbestos in the water scare, WDIO announced on their evening news broadcast that citizens of Duluth were welcome to come up to the station and use their hose to fill water jugs as their water came from a well and not the city water supply. After a few days of refilling big jugs, Tor got the idea that maybe he could streamline the operation by pulling the back seats out of his VW Microbus to make room for a waterbed mattress that he could fill up. So up Observation hill he chugged. It took hours to fill the matress, of course. Then, with his precious cargo on board, he headed back down the hill. Not realizing that he’d added about 3000 lbs. of additional weight to the underpowered and manually braked Microbus, the little van began to pick up speed at a frightening rate. He pushed the brake pedal and barely slowed. He pushed again, this time much harder- and the brakes locked up and the van came to a sudden halt. The now tsunami-shaped waterbed mattress lurched forward, slamming Tor and his partner up against the windshield like cartoon characters- and then, just as suddenly, the wave reversed direction and the mattress burst open filling the van with water. Reaching for the door handle, the door blasted open, nearly yanking his wrist off as the force of this portable ocean let loose. I still get tears in my eyes with laughter every time I tell this story…
Thomas John “Tor” Torrison, 68, died Aug. 25, 2009 at King Manor, Duluth.
He was born in Pelican Rapids Oct. 19, 1940 to Orrin and Ruth Torrison.
He graduated from Rugby High School, Rugby, N.D. and Luther College, Decorah, Ind. Tor married Sharon Johnson in 1963 and Julie Soderberg.
He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Aaron Torrison.
Tor is survived by his sister, Maren (Dean) Blatchford of Fargo, N.D.; nephew, Eric Aleckson of Amery, Wis.; three nieces, Lisa Pohlman of Mason City, Iowa, Kris Heldt of Fort Dodge, Iowa and Andrea Greenswalt of Fargo, N.D.
My post was boosted from today’s newspaper, so I’m hoping Wildgoose’s compliment was based on his appreciation of things I’ve actually written, and not what I’m assuming a mortuary/cremation business submitted to the News Tribune.
He loved my dog, Dogzilla, so much that when he came into the same room, he would bellow, “Oh you little rapscallion. Oh you @#*&#@” and get down onto the floor and wrestle with this animal until he was laughing and coughing and we feared for his safety.
then he’d say “such Joy, such wonderful stuff” and he’d swear. I loved him so much. He will be so missed.
Torr, what a ride, man. the eighties wouldn’t ve played out the way they did if not for you. Remember the plaid sunrise from atop the dove building and our old studio. Then there was babylon west and all the can wars and lunatics. good times bad times… we chased a lot of ice worms what with all the snapps and beer. You made me crazy man but i loved you and the boy and axel too. i cried when i heard you were gone. now its nigh 14 years since aaron crossed out of this life too. sad stuff no more, God’s arm is not so short that He can’t reach us wherever we be, u b missed. u b loved. 4now 4ever. say hi to aaron love ya tre
I used to go to the Tor and Oddio zone, next to the gym at Emerson from time to time when everyone else was asleep, and if I was lucky they’d be hanging around.
We lived in the basement and, as Jamie described, Torr and Oddio would be raising their own kind of hell while the rest of the house slumbered. There was nothing better than the Torr and Oddio zone at 3am on a Monday.
Oh God Tor. I was supposed to go first. This is a sad day for me, your old roommate, confidante, hell raiser extrordiare, (all in good fun of course) and all around as good a friend that anyone could hope for. I don’d know how many nights we stayed awake solving all the Worlds problems and laughing all the way. (Which the neighbors wern’t too fond of at times) I like to think that maybe, just maybe, you made a little change in this world for the better.
You will be missed my friend. It was a good run because you made it that way.
You took a piece of my heart Torr.
May you rest in peace.
Tor, Sharon & Aaron we’re/ are all parts of my life.
FYI: Since Sharon retirement, she’s been an intricate part of her family’s business, Johnson’s Bakery.
oh I just found this after the post about RT’s. I love Tor and have amazing memories of him from RT’s and his home at Emerson. I wish I had pictures of his place to see if it really was as amazing as I have it pictured in my mind. Oh the late nights/early mornings with Torr and Oddio!
Torr you will be missed. You will live in my memories and your huge palm tree that continues to live in my room.
Has any preparations been made for the celibration of Torr life?
Tor was a local icon, and a wonderful fellow. Ditto on the arrangements, would like to pay my respects….
Toooooorrrrrrrr! *sobs*
a truly giving artist, actor and human.
He was a Perfect Duluth Character.
When and where can we celebrate the Torr? Perhaps they know at the Stinky…..
He was a kind, witty, talented and totally unique gentlemen.
Please share more about Tor.
When Torr would buy cigs from a machine when the pack came out he would scream, “I won! I won!” and jump around like he was on The Price is Right waving the pack around.
Back in the early 70s during the asbestos in the water scare, WDIO announced on their evening news broadcast that citizens of Duluth were welcome to come up to the station and use their hose to fill water jugs as their water came from a well and not the city water supply. After a few days of refilling big jugs, Tor got the idea that maybe he could streamline the operation by pulling the back seats out of his VW Microbus to make room for a waterbed mattress that he could fill up. So up Observation hill he chugged. It took hours to fill the matress, of course. Then, with his precious cargo on board, he headed back down the hill. Not realizing that he’d added about 3000 lbs. of additional weight to the underpowered and manually braked Microbus, the little van began to pick up speed at a frightening rate. He pushed the brake pedal and barely slowed. He pushed again, this time much harder- and the brakes locked up and the van came to a sudden halt. The now tsunami-shaped waterbed mattress lurched forward, slamming Tor and his partner up against the windshield like cartoon characters- and then, just as suddenly, the wave reversed direction and the mattress burst open filling the van with water. Reaching for the door handle, the door blasted open, nearly yanking his wrist off as the force of this portable ocean let loose. I still get tears in my eyes with laughter every time I tell this story…
That’s sad. Best to you, Tor… hope where ever you are you’re enjoying a smoke and a Powercat Ice.
OBITUARY
Thomas John “Tor” Torrison, 68, died Aug. 25, 2009 at King Manor, Duluth.
He was born in Pelican Rapids Oct. 19, 1940 to Orrin and Ruth Torrison.
He graduated from Rugby High School, Rugby, N.D. and Luther College, Decorah, Ind. Tor married Sharon Johnson in 1963 and Julie Soderberg.
He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Aaron Torrison.
Tor is survived by his sister, Maren (Dean) Blatchford of Fargo, N.D.; nephew, Eric Aleckson of Amery, Wis.; three nieces, Lisa Pohlman of Mason City, Iowa, Kris Heldt of Fort Dodge, Iowa and Andrea Greenswalt of Fargo, N.D.
That ship implement on the Lakewalk painted like a green monster was done by Tor. It used to be a PDD banner.
When I die I want Paul Lundgren to write my obituary.
My post was boosted from today’s newspaper, so I’m hoping Wildgoose’s compliment was based on his appreciation of things I’ve actually written, and not what I’m assuming a mortuary/cremation business submitted to the News Tribune.
He loved my dog, Dogzilla, so much that when he came into the same room, he would bellow, “Oh you little rapscallion. Oh you @#*&#@” and get down onto the floor and wrestle with this animal until he was laughing and coughing and we feared for his safety.
then he’d say “such Joy, such wonderful stuff” and he’d swear. I loved him so much. He will be so missed.
Torr, what a ride, man. the eighties wouldn’t ve played out the way they did if not for you. Remember the plaid sunrise from atop the dove building and our old studio. Then there was babylon west and all the can wars and lunatics. good times bad times… we chased a lot of ice worms what with all the snapps and beer. You made me crazy man but i loved you and the boy and axel too. i cried when i heard you were gone. now its nigh 14 years since aaron crossed out of this life too. sad stuff no more, God’s arm is not so short that He can’t reach us wherever we be, u b missed. u b loved. 4now 4ever. say hi to aaron love ya tre
I used to go to the Tor and Oddio zone, next to the gym at Emerson from time to time when everyone else was asleep, and if I was lucky they’d be hanging around.
We lived in the basement and, as Jamie described, Torr and Oddio would be raising their own kind of hell while the rest of the house slumbered. There was nothing better than the Torr and Oddio zone at 3am on a Monday.
Oh God Tor. I was supposed to go first. This is a sad day for me, your old roommate, confidante, hell raiser extrordiare, (all in good fun of course) and all around as good a friend that anyone could hope for. I don’d know how many nights we stayed awake solving all the Worlds problems and laughing all the way. (Which the neighbors wern’t too fond of at times) I like to think that maybe, just maybe, you made a little change in this world for the better.
You will be missed my friend. It was a good run because you made it that way.
You took a piece of my heart Torr.
May you rest in peace.
Matt
Tor, Sharon & Aaron we’re/ are all parts of my life.
FYI: Since Sharon retirement, she’s been an intricate part of her family’s business, Johnson’s Bakery.
Wow. That picture is amazing. Really shows where Aaron got his puckish good looks.
Peace, sir.
oh I just found this after the post about RT’s. I love Tor and have amazing memories of him from RT’s and his home at Emerson. I wish I had pictures of his place to see if it really was as amazing as I have it pictured in my mind. Oh the late nights/early mornings with Torr and Oddio!
Thomas,
It was a joy!