Irene K. Torvik

Irene K. Torvik, age 83, of Grants Pass, died August 4, 2011 at Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford.

A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 15, 2011 at Calvary Lutheran Church.

Contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 502 17th Street NW, Minot, North Dakota 58703 or Calvary Lutheran Church, 909 NE A Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

Irene was born December 30, 1927 to Henry & Julia Knodel in Carson, North Dakota. She married Duane Torvik on July 6, 1947 and he died in May 2010. They lived in Chile and the Solomon Islands and enjoyed traveling the world together. They moved to Grants Pass from Minot, North Dakota when he retired in 1989.

Her passion was Duplicate Bridge. She became the second person in North Dakota to become a Life Master in May 1975. She continued to excel and was the top masterpoint earner of the Grants Pass Duplicate Bridge Club. She was involved in many activities at Calvary Lutheran Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Smith of Burnett Heads, Australia and Jill Weitz of Hermiston, Oregon; two sisters, Joan Meyer and Shirley Mancini; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Agnes Knodel and Edna Lewandowski.