Robert Donald "Don" Torline
Marriages
Frances Selenke - January 6, 1955
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 8B Death Notice - December 25, 2013
Robert Donald “Don” Torline, 82, Grand Junction, died Dec.
21, 2013 at his home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday with a rosary at 7
p.m. at Callahan-Edfast Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday
at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with a graveside service at 11 a.m. at
Calvary Cemetery in Stratton.
He is survived by his wife Frances; one son, Charles of Grand
Junction; four daughters, Carolyn Ryman of Lone Tree, Donna
Ripperda of Littleton, Mary Shilling of Denver and Julie Velvin of
Castle Rock; one brother, Larry of Lakewood; and nine grandchildren.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - December 26, 2013
November 8, 1931 - December 21, 2013
Don passed away suddenly
December 21, 2013, at the age
of 82.
Don was born November 8,
1931 to Lawrence J. and Mary J.
Torline in Kinsley, Kansas where
he spent his early childhood.
His family would move several
times during his younger years
including Boise City, Oklahoma
and Alamo, Texas before settling in Colorado. He graduated from
The Abbey in Canon City. Soon after graduation he joined the
military and served his country in the Korean War. It was during
this period that his family would settle in Stratton. Upon his return
from the Korean War he was honorably discharged.
It was in Stratton where he met and married Frances Selenke on
January 6, 1955. Shortly after they were married, he began working
on a seismograph crew for a gas pipeline company that took them
to Bridgeport and Oshkosh, Nebraska. A few years later he moved
back to Stratton, Colorado where he managed the American Legion
Hall. In February, 1960, he moved his family to Grand Junction,
Colorado where he began working for the United States Department
of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service as a civil engineer where
he remained until he retired in 1985.
Don was always an avid reader and after his retirement he was able
to devote more time to reading and his other hobby woodworking,
for which he had a great talent. He leaves behind many works and
pieces of art that will be a lasting tribute to his craftsmanship, for
his family to enjoy and remember him by. Some of Don’s other
activities include being a member of the Knights of Columbus,
bowling, fishing and board and card games.
Don is survived by, and will be deeply missed by, his wife of 58
years, Frances; his brother, Larry (Martha) Torline of Lakewood,
CO; his five children, Charles (Linda) Torline of Grand Junction,
CO; Carolyn (Bruce) Ryman of Lone Tree, CO; Donna (Ron)
Ripperda of Littleton, CO; Mary (John) Schilling of Denver, CO;
and Julie (Chad) Velvin of Castle Rock, CO; nine grandchildren
Lindsay Rolofson, Kyle Torline, Melissa Ryman, Chris Ryman,
Trenton Ripperda, John Thomas (JT) Schilling, Connor Velivin,
Spencer Velvin and Tanner Velvin and extended family member
Jason Garrison. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister
Helene Smelker.
There will be a rosary service Thursday, December 26, 2013 at
Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, and a memorial mass for Don will take
place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday December 27, 2013 at St. Joseph
Catholic Church, 330 White Ave., Grand Junction, CO. A private
family burial service will take place at Calvary Cemetery in
Stratton, Colorado.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7B Obituary - December 27, 2013
November 8, 1931 - December 21, 2013
Don passed away suddenly
December 21, 2013, at the age
of 82.
Don was born November 8,
1931 to Lawrence J. and Mary J.
Torline in Kinsley, Kansas where
he spent his early childhood.
His family would move several
times during his younger years
including Boise City, Oklahoma
and Alamo, Texas before settling in Colorado. He graduated from
The Abbey in Canon City. Soon after graduation he joined the
military and served his country in the Korean War. It was during
this period that his family would settle in Stratton. Upon his return
from the Korean War he was honorably discharged.
It was in Stratton where he met and married Frances Selenke on
January 6, 1955. Shortly after they were married, he began working
on a seismograph crew for a gas pipeline company that took them
to Bridgeport and Oshkosh, Nebraska. A few years later he moved
back to Stratton, Colorado where he managed the American Legion
Hall. In February, 1960, he moved his family to Grand Junction,
Colorado where he began working for the United States Department
of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service as a civil engineer where
he remained until he retired in 1985.
Don was always an avid reader and after his retirement he was able
to devote more time to reading and his other hobby woodworking,
for which he had a great talent. He leaves behind many works and
pieces of art that will be a lasting tribute to his craftsmanship, for
his family to enjoy and remember him by. Some of Don’s other
activities include being a member of the Knights of Columbus,
bowling, fishing and board and card games.
Don is survived by, and will be deeply missed by, his wife of 58
years, Frances; his brother, Larry (Martha) Torline of Lakewood,
CO; his five children, Charles (Linda) Torline of Grand Junction,
CO; Carolyn (Bruce) Ryman of Lone Tree, CO; Donna (Ron)
Ripperda of Littleton, CO; Mary (John) Schilling of Denver, CO;
and Julie (Chad) Velvin of Castle Rock, CO; nine grandchildren
Lindsay Rolofson, Kyle Torline, Melissa Ryman, Chris Ryman,
Trenton Ripperda, John Thomas (JT) Schilling, Connor Velvin,
Spencer Velvin and Tanner Velvin and extended family member
Jason Garrison. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister
Helene Smelker.
A memorial mass for Don will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday
December 27, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 330 White Ave.,
Grand Junction, CO. A private family burial service will take place
at Calvary Cemetery in Stratton, Colorado. A rosary service took
place Thursday, December 26, 2013 at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to St.
Joseph Church building fund, 330 White Ave., Grand Junction, CO
81501.
