Friday, October 29, 2010

In Memory of MWB Russell E. Torfin

This post is done in the honor of MWB Russell Edward Torfin, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota Masons in 1972.

MWB Russell was born September 17, 1924in Gleenwood, MN and died October 23, 2010 in Gleenwood, MN. Russell graduated from Villard High School in 1942 and enlisted in the Navy during WWII. He married his high school sweetheart Ruth Streich.After the war was over he attend college at St. Cloud State University and graduated with a degree in teaching. He took his first teaching position at Paynesville, MN. He went from Paynsville to Cyrus for two years as a teacher /principal.In 1953-1958 he and his family lived in Gleenwood where he owned and operated a wholesale meat businees for Schweigert.

During his time in Gleenwood, Russ was a charter member of the Gleenwood Jaycees, VFW, and served as Mayor. In 1958 he purchased Gordon's Resort form Charlie Gordon, which allowed him to return to his boyhood home on Lake Amelia. For the next 16 years Russ and Ruth operated the resort as Torfin's Resort. During these years he also taught in the Villard School District. In 1974 Russ retired from teaching and he and Ruth sold the resort and moved to their present home. For the next 30 years Russ and Ruth traveled to their second home in Mission, Texas where they spent their winters enjoying golfing, dancing,the beaches, and meeting new friends.

MWB Russ took all of his degrees at the old Sincerity Lodge #161 in Villard, MN; Entered Apprentice Degree 3-5-1946; Fellowcraft Degree 3-19-1946; Master Mason Degree 3-30-1946. He served as the Worshipful Master for Sincerity Lodge #161 in 1959. He was appointed to the Grand Lodge Progressive Line on March 22, 1962 by then Grand Master Harvard B. Olson and was elected Grand Master on Masons in Minnesota on April 21, 1972, serving that office for the 1972 - 1973 term.His appointee to the Grand Lodge Line was MWB John P. Peterson, Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota for the 1981 - 1982 term. MWB Vern Long, Grand Master in 1973 conducted the Masonic Services for MWB Russ on Octorber 28, 2010 at the Hoplin-Hitchcook Mortuary. It was a very well attend by brother of Valley Lodge #174 in Gleenwood and other brothers and Grand Lodges Officers from around the state.