95
Beresford
June 30, 2025
Gordon William Tornberg peacefully passed at the age of 95 on June 30, 2025.
Born Jan. 26, 1930, to Lillian and Oscar Tornberg, he was the second of eight children. Gordon was a dairy farmer and business partner with his own father and the primary caretaker of his mother until her passing. Until the last few weeks of his life, he lived in his childhood home on the family farm just south of Beresford where two sons farmed, one son was the family Vet, a daughter was the Vet Tech, and the other daughter was the chief medical consultant. Grandsons-in-law and great-nephews became the fourth generation running the family farm. The Tornberg’s defined the concept of a FAMILY farm.
On Feb. 2, 1951, Gordon married LaDell Miller and that union of 68 years produced seven children, 19 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Farming is hard work, but Gordon still found time to enjoy golfing, fishing, and was an avid sports and music fan, especially when any of his offsprings were showcasing their talents. He and LaDell wintered in Texas for close to 20 years along with lifelong friends from Beresford and new friends made in Orange Grove. He served the community of Beresford as a School Board Member and was recently honored as a Beresford Hall of Fame Member.
Those who gratefully share his memory include Mike (Ann) Tornberg, Beresford and their daughters Marie (Mike) Moeller and Michelle (Jim) Andrews; Steve (Kit) Tornberg, Harrisburg and their daughters Emilie (James) Smithback, Katie (Justin) Reilly, and Elle (Paul) Anderson; Connie and Paul’s children Jake (Sara) Stonefield, Heidi (Greg) Faehnrich; Bruce Tornberg, Beresford and his sons, Gabe (Mary) Tornberg and Tucker (Brittany) Tornberg; Susie (Gene) McTavish, Chetek, Wisconsin and their daughters Jill McTavish, Lisa (Brandon) Rouse, and Chrissy McTavish; Marlene (Steve) Gannon, Harrisburg and their children, Nick Gannon, Heidi (Jason) Mitchell, and Aymee (Danny) Dyck; and Randy’s Children Brittny, Tanner, Sadie (Braeden) Bruning, and Josie (Scott) Miller.
Perhaps the greatest blessing of Gordon’s 95-year life was to watch his beautiful, smart, and talented great-grandchildren grow. Until the last month of his life, he was often at ballgames, concerts, graduations, birthday parties, and fishing at Twin Lakes while laughing, loving, and instructing the newest generation of Tornberg’s. And if he couldn’t be there in person, his local tech team could stream events for him to watch from his favorite chair. In the last month of his life, he cheered as one of his kids won a national title in Seattle.
The generation that blessed his golden years included Charlie, Lily, Laney, Emma, Anna, Lizzy, Austyn, Sophie, Izzie, Ben, Addison, Brianna, Keegan, Braylen, Ruby, Cora, Kaylee, Maycee, Cooper, Nora, Noel, Levi, Harrison, Annabelle, Caroline, Charlie, Berkley, Finley, Everett, Olivia, Caleaya, Lexi, Angel, and Janae.
In the last week of his life, he was able to hold his beautiful new great-great-granddaughter, Lennyn.
Gordon is also survived by one sister, Ruth (Tornberg) Eirschele; brothers, Donald Tornberg, and Larry (Mary Jo) Tornberg; brother-in-law David Willey; and many loving Tornberg nieces and nephews, extended family of in-laws, cousins, and friends.
Gordon will join those loved ones who proceeded him in death including his wife, LaDell; his oldest daughter, Connie (Tornberg) Stonefield and son-in-law Paul; youngest son, Randy Tornberg; and four of his sisters, Arlene (Tornberg) Carls, Marge (Tornberg) Klostergaard, Joyce (Tornberg) Walmsley, and Carol (Tornberg) Willey.
Gordon loved to recommend his Swedish heritage and was fond of telling everyone: “You can always tell a Swede…but you can’t tell him much!”
Funeral services will be 10AM Thursday, July 3, 2025 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 101 S 5th Street, Beresford. Visitation will be 5-7PM Wednesday at the church with a 7PM prayer service.