MONROE — When Valerie Torkelson learned last year that she was nominated for the Jeannette Frank Continuous Service Award through the Cecil Jones VFW Auxiliary 2312 out of Monroe, she felt truly honored to even be considered.

This year, as she was taken to what she thought would be a family dinner, she instead walked into a room filled with people who were waiting to celebrate that, this year — she won. 

“I’d never even given it a thought,” she said while reflecting on how she felt as she walked into the room. “It was great just to be nominated.”

The state auxiliary chairman also showed up for the occasion, which was a momentous event for Torkelson who, at age 88, has served on the auxiliary for 54 years. She described the celebration as “three hours of fun.”

VFW Auxiliary 2312 president Vicki Haffele said Torkelson is the first auxiliary member in the post to receive the honor.

Torkelson got her start with the Cecil Jones VFW Auxiliary 2312 early on when friend Betty Felder asked her to join. She and her husband, Bert, had a dairy farm and Torkelson would attend meetings regularly before quickly becoming more involved. Bert was a Korean War veteran. 

“If they needed help — I just did it,” she said.

She served as auxiliary president for two years in the mid-1980s and a few years later took over the role as the president of the district and served a year. She also served as the group’s chaplain for about 10 years, just recently stepping down from that role.

She enjoyed getting out and helping. The group was much larger years ago, and it was a way to socialize and develop friendships and she said they would often play cards and hold holiday parties and picnics with families. 

Her memories of the early auxiliary years, she said, were interesting. The president was to be addressed only as “madam president” and if someone needed to get out of their chair for any reason it was required that it be filled until they returned. They also weren’t allowed to wear hats.

She also recalls when the auxiliary sold brooms as a fundraiser, and said it was a popular commodity at the time to land an “auxiliary broom” before they were sold out.

“They were gone as soon as we got them,” she said. “I still have some.”

She said she’s proud that the legacy and purpose of the auxiliary is still strong. Although it’s different now, she’s honored to still be a part of the meaningful group.

Her nomination letter, written by Haffele and other members of the auxiliary, explains how Torkelson was always helping out with fundraisers that often centered around food. She was usually doing the cooking chores, working on the annual Turtle Feeds and St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef Dinner. 

Torkelson’s involvement seemed to increase as quickly as her years in the auxiliary. She was a helpful part of the Sunday Morning Scholarship Breakfasts, which started under her presidency. She worked every month during that time period, frying up sausage for about 200 people. She also worked the group’s biggest fundraiser, at the Green County Fair food stand, for years, often taking on several shifts. 

Her gift of being a home seamstress came in handy and, until recent years, she made welcome bags for the VA Hospital in Madison. She sewed hundreds of bags for veterans who would receive one filled with toiletries as they arrived at the hospital. She also helped prepare and serve at funeral lunches for any of the VFW Post home families.

Torkelson enjoyed being a part of several local and state parades, and even served on the color guard. She also helped lay poppy sprays on veterans’ graves on Memorial Day before the Boy Scouts took over. 

She served the auxiliary as its Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Chairman, and also spent time getting applicants for state scholarships. The VFW Auxiliary 2312 out of Monroe covers four area communities that don’t have VFW posts and Torkelson traveled to each one to help get applications for programs into their schools, according to her nomination form.

She chaired the blood drive event for at least a decade, working with the Red Cross and then preparing the snacks, running the canteen and personally donating the cheese trays since her son was a cheesemaker. 

“It was a long day, but it was good,” she said. 

Despite her age and years involved, Torkelson still attends meetings and sends cards to veterans and auxiliary members. Her calendar is filled with names of those who may need their day brightened with a thoughtful card. She isn’t sure she’s still technically the Rehabilitation Chairman, a position she held for years, but sends them anyway. 

“I think it’s nice — especially if someone is in the hospital or nursing home,” she said. 

The auxiliary was the only group she chose to stay involved with through so many years, she said. She was busy with the farm and raising their three children. Torkelson also enjoyed crocheting and now still enjoys reading and watching television. 

When her husband died 17 years ago, Torkelson said she never thought to quit the auxiliary, a place that felt like home after so many years and was filled with friendships. 

“It was good for me, that’s for sure,” she said.

Torkelson received a necklace and a plaque as part of the most recent award’s honor. 

The final words nominating Torkelson for the award state:

“She has contributed so much to our auxiliary, to our community and even more to our veterans. We respect and love her for her outstanding service, and we feel that she very much deserves consideration for the Jeannette Frank Continuous Service Award.”