Kristina M. Gray, 62, of Crookston passed away unexpectedly Thursday, May 31, 2018 at her home. A funeral service will be held Monday, June 4, at 2:00 pm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Crookston with Rev. Bill Reck officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 1:00 pm until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be in the Oakdale Cemetery in Crookston.
Kristina Marie Torkelson was born to Glen and Lucile (Aslakson) on August 8, 1955 in Crookston, MN. Kristina graduated from Crookston High School in 1973. She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1977. From there, Kristina went on to the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities where she earned her master's degree in English as a Second Language (ESL). Then began her teaching career at the U of M in Minneapolis. Kristina had just begun her world travels as she joined the Peace Corps in the Philippines. Next she took a job in China as an English Language Instructor. Kristina was not done with the Peace Corps as she became a trainer for Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. Rounding out her world travels was an opportunity to work for the Fulbright Commission in Kyrgyzstan. There she met Ken Gray. The couple married on Christmas Eve in 1998. While Ken had 3 children already, Kristina became a loving step-mother to his children, and eventually a step-grandmother which she really enjoyed.
Kristina also loved Polk County history, gardening and music. She eventually started to put her Polk County history research into writing, published two books about people and places here. Soon after, she began to write a Polk County history column for the Crookston Times which was published each Friday. Kristina was very involved in the restoration of the Carnegie Library building in Crookston. Her love for music as an accomplished violinist gave her a desire to perform at church, UMC, and other public places along with the Carnegie Library Building as well as singing with Crookston Women's Chorus. She grew up attending St. Paul's Lutheran church and at present time was a member of Valley Christian Fellowship. She was also on the board at the Polk County Historical Society as well as the Northern Arts Council.
Kristina is survived by her parents, Glen and Lucile Torkelson, Crookston; husband, Ken Gray, Crookston; siblings, Karen (Tony) Solgard, Cape Coral, FL; Katherine (Darrell) Majkrzak, Lino Lakes; Tony (Anthony Merle) Torkelson, Lakeville; Tora (Jeff) Meyer, Eagan, and Tim (Karla Deden) Torkelson, Wausau, WI; step-children, Liam Gray, Tucson, AZ; Luke Gray, Prescott, AZ; and Laura Bolyard, Tucson, AZ, along with several nieces and nephews and countless friends from around the world.
Kristina was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ameel and Ellen Torkelson, Harold and Dagny Aslakson, and uncle, Leigh Aslakson.
Kristina Marie Torkelson was born to Glen and Lucile (Aslakson) on August 8, 1955 in Crookston, MN. Kristina graduated from Crookston High School in 1973. She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1977. From there, Kristina went on to the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities where she earned her master's degree in English as a Second Language (ESL). Then began her teaching career at the U of M in Minneapolis. Kristina had just begun her world travels as she joined the Peace Corps in the Philippines. Next she took a job in China as an English Language Instructor. Kristina was not done with the Peace Corps as she became a trainer for Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. Rounding out her world travels was an opportunity to work for the Fulbright Commission in Kyrgyzstan. There she met Ken Gray. The couple married on Christmas Eve in 1998. While Ken had 3 children already, Kristina became a loving step-mother to his children, and eventually a step-grandmother which she really enjoyed.
Kristina also loved Polk County history, gardening and music. She eventually started to put her Polk County history research into writing, published two books about people and places here. Soon after, she began to write a Polk County history column for the Crookston Times which was published each Friday. Kristina was very involved in the restoration of the Carnegie Library building in Crookston. Her love for music as an accomplished violinist gave her a desire to perform at church, UMC, and other public places along with the Carnegie Library Building as well as singing with Crookston Women's Chorus. She grew up attending St. Paul's Lutheran church and at present time was a member of Valley Christian Fellowship. She was also on the board at the Polk County Historical Society as well as the Northern Arts Council.
Kristina is survived by her parents, Glen and Lucile Torkelson, Crookston; husband, Ken Gray, Crookston; siblings, Karen (Tony) Solgard, Cape Coral, FL; Katherine (Darrell) Majkrzak, Lino Lakes; Tony (Anthony Merle) Torkelson, Lakeville; Tora (Jeff) Meyer, Eagan, and Tim (Karla Deden) Torkelson, Wausau, WI; step-children, Liam Gray, Tucson, AZ; Luke Gray, Prescott, AZ; and Laura Bolyard, Tucson, AZ, along with several nieces and nephews and countless friends from around the world.
Kristina was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ameel and Ellen Torkelson, Harold and Dagny Aslakson, and uncle, Leigh Aslakson.
Kristina M. Gray, 62, of Crookston passed away unexpectedly Thursday, May 31, 2018 at her home. A funeral service will be held Monday, June 4, at 2:00 pm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Crookston with Rev. Bill Reck officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 1:00 pm until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be in the Oakdale Cemetery in Crookston.
Kristina Marie Torkelson was born to Glen and Lucile (Aslakson) on August 8, 1955 in Crookston, MN. Kristina graduated from Crookston High School in 1973. She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1977. From there, Kristina went on to the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities where she earned her master's degree in English as a Second Language (ESL). Then began her teaching career at the U of M in Minneapolis. Kristina had just begun her world travels as she joined the Peace Corps in the Philippines. Next she took a job in China as an English Language Instructor. Kristina was not done with the Peace Corps as she became a trainer for Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. Rounding out her world travels was an opportunity to work for the Fulbright Commission in Kyrgyzstan. There she met Ken Gray. The couple married on Christmas Eve in 1998. While Ken had 3 children already, Kristina became a loving step-mother to his children, and eventually a step-grandmother which she really enjoyed.
Kristina also loved Polk County history, gardening and music. She eventually started to put her Polk County history research into writing, published two books about people and places here. Soon after, she began to write a Polk County history column for the Crookston Times which was published each Friday. Kristina was very involved in the restoration of the Carnegie Library building in Crookston. Her love for music as an accomplished violinist gave her a desire to perform at church, UMC, and other public places along with the Carnegie Library Building as well as singing with Crookston Women's Chorus. She grew up attending St. Paul's Lutheran church and at present time was a member of Valley Christian Fellowship. She was also on the board at the Polk County Historical Society as well as the Northern Arts Council.
Kristina is survived by her parents, Glen and Lucile Torkelson, Crookston; husband, Ken Gray, Crookston; siblings, Karen (Tony) Solgard, Cape Coral, FL; Katherine (Darrell) Majkrzak, Lino Lakes; Tony (Anthony Merle) Torkelson, Lakeville; Tora (Jeff) Meyer, Eagan, and Tim (Karla Deden) Torkelson, Wausau, WI; step-children, Liam Gray, Tucson, AZ; Luke Gray, Prescott, AZ; and Laura Bolyard, Tucson, AZ, along with several nieces and nephews and countless friends from around the world.
Kristina was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ameel and Ellen Torkelson, Harold and Dagny Aslakson, and uncle, Leigh Aslakson.
Kristina Marie Torkelson was born to Glen and Lucile (Aslakson) on August 8, 1955 in Crookston, MN. Kristina graduated from Crookston High School in 1973. She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1977. From there, Kristina went on to the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities where she earned her master's degree in English as a Second Language (ESL). Then began her teaching career at the U of M in Minneapolis. Kristina had just begun her world travels as she joined the Peace Corps in the Philippines. Next she took a job in China as an English Language Instructor. Kristina was not done with the Peace Corps as she became a trainer for Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. Rounding out her world travels was an opportunity to work for the Fulbright Commission in Kyrgyzstan. There she met Ken Gray. The couple married on Christmas Eve in 1998. While Ken had 3 children already, Kristina became a loving step-mother to his children, and eventually a step-grandmother which she really enjoyed.
Kristina also loved Polk County history, gardening and music. She eventually started to put her Polk County history research into writing, published two books about people and places here. Soon after, she began to write a Polk County history column for the Crookston Times which was published each Friday. Kristina was very involved in the restoration of the Carnegie Library building in Crookston. Her love for music as an accomplished violinist gave her a desire to perform at church, UMC, and other public places along with the Carnegie Library Building as well as singing with Crookston Women's Chorus. She grew up attending St. Paul's Lutheran church and at present time was a member of Valley Christian Fellowship. She was also on the board at the Polk County Historical Society as well as the Northern Arts Council.
Kristina is survived by her parents, Glen and Lucile Torkelson, Crookston; husband, Ken Gray, Crookston; siblings, Karen (Tony) Solgard, Cape Coral, FL; Katherine (Darrell) Majkrzak, Lino Lakes; Tony (Anthony Merle) Torkelson, Lakeville; Tora (Jeff) Meyer, Eagan, and Tim (Karla Deden) Torkelson, Wausau, WI; step-children, Liam Gray, Tucson, AZ; Luke Gray, Prescott, AZ; and Laura Bolyard, Tucson, AZ, along with several nieces and nephews and countless friends from around the world.
Kristina was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ameel and Ellen Torkelson, Harold and Dagny Aslakson, and uncle, Leigh Aslakson.
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