Koleen Diane Kenyon

Koleen Diane Kenyon, 82, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at Sanford Health, in Fargo, ND.

Koleen was born at home on August 7, 1934, to Arthur and Kathleen (Forsland) Torgusson, in Aurdal Township near Fergus Falls. She grew up on a farm with three brothers, two sisters and a lot of music in the air. Her dad played fiddle at barn dances and school houses, with the family accompanying him musically. Koleen learned to play piano and guitar at a young age, and would sometimes go to town to sing on the radio with her family. She attended country school and Fergus Falls High School before moving to Fargo, ND, with her good friend, Bunny Heglund, and working at a St. John's Hospital for a time.

On September 3, 1955, Koleen was married to Keith Kenyon, and seven kids followed: Dawn, Steve, Denise (who passed away as an infant), Leah, the twins, Marty and Terri, and then Kimberly. With love and imagination, she taught her kids it was better to be different than conform, encouraging them to make music and be creative. She loved her kids and later, grandkids, fiercely. She was proud of them and in her eyes, they could do no wrong, so they all grew up knowing truly unconditional love.

Koleen lived a free-spirited, vagabond lifestyle throughout the eighties with Gary Jorgens, her brothers and friends whom she loved, roaming around in her "buggy van" and sometimes playing and singing in a band with her sister, Connie. She often talked about how much she loved this time in her life. She settled down a little in the nineties, working as a receptionist at Fergus Falls Middle School for some years before retiring.

A kind and generous soul, Koleen loved taking care of people and helping anyone in any way she could, with whatever she had. She loved with all her heart. Here is a list she made of things she loved:
Israel, blues music, gypsies, motorcycles, sea gulls, sparrows, beaches, campfires, Famous Dave's, all trees, cactuses, deserts, Jesus and her family.

Koleen has touched the hearts of many just by being her one true, genuine self. She is so very loved. Our gypsy queen forever. She never realized her own magic, but the rest of us did.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Art and Kay Torgusson; brothers, Kenny, Kirby and David Torgusson; sister, Connie Stoll; infant daughter, Denise Kenyon; daughter-in-law, Denise Kenyon; best friend, Gary Jorgens; and many, many more friends and family members.

Koleen is survived by her children, Dawn (Brad) Dugan of Fergus Falls, Steve Kenyon of Underwood, Leah Kenyon (Doug Moe) of Fergus Falls, Marty Kenyon of Erhard, Terri (Bob Schmidt) Kenyon of Moorhead, and Kimberly Kenyon (Jim Lund) of Moorhead; grandchildren, Jordan (Chad) VanSurksum, Jessalyn (Jack Hegerle) Torgerson, Ash and Ian Landberg, Natasha (Nick) Grant, Tyler (Debbie) Kenyon-Woessner, Tully Kenyon (Noah Albright) and Mia Kenyon; great-grandchildren, Sydney and Milan VanSurksum, Julian Kenyon-Spidahl, Avery, Izzybelle and Imogen Kenyon-Woessner; one sister, Kathy Donley; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation: 10:00-11:00 AM on Friday, March 3, 2017, at Olson Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: 11:00 AM on Friday, March 3, 2017, at the Olson Funeral Home Chapel
Lunch will be served at the Fergus Falls VFW Post #612 following the burial.
Clergy: Pastor Tammy Mueller
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery in Fergus Falls, MN.
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN.