Clarice Collins

MASON CITY: Our loving mother, Clarice Collins, 100, of Mason City, passed away Sunday, December 15, 2013 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit after suffering a stroke. She lived in her home in Mason City until the last few days. She recently had a great time with her family celebrating her 100th birthday complete with fireworks. Memorial services will be held 2:00 pm Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1405 S. Pennsylvania Avenue with Rev. Steve Hansen officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to Wesley United Methodist Church or donor’s choice. Clarice was born on November 26th, 1913 in Randall, Iowa the daughter of Hans and Bertha (Lund) Torkelson. She grew up on a farm north west of Story City, IA, surrounded by many Norwegian Lund and Torkelson relatives, many of them who also lived to 100 years old. Clarice was a state 4-H champion and graduated from Iowa State College in 1935 and then married her husband Stan. She lived in Ames and Eldora before moving to Mason City in 1953. She is a long time member of Wesley United Methodist Church where she was very active and volunteered to organize many church dinners. Clarice was very active in many organizations including Home Economics Club, Garden Club, NARFE, and Sons of Norway. At their Minnesota cabin she enjoyed fishing and cooking with wild berries that she picked. She and Stan enjoyed trips to many locations around the world and especially trips to Norway to explore her family roots. She was well known for her flower gardening including amaryllises, hollyhocks, and giant hibiscus, and really enjoyed cooking Norwegian pastries. She is survived by her brother, Sanford of Glendora, California; sons, Stanley (Karla) and Tom (Shirley), grandchildren, Chris (Sue), Mary (Mike), Phil (Ruth), Greg (Emily), and Doug (Serena), great grandchildren, Jordan, Meg, Emma, Bayleigh, Brogen, Carolyn, and Thomas. Clarice was preceded in death by her husband, Stan; her parents, Bertha and Hans Torkelson; brothers, Casper and Herman; son, David and his wife Ann and their children Scott and Jeffrey.