Yvonne Blomquist, age 91, formerly of Hanska, passed away peacefully Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Ridgeway on 23rd Senior Assisted Living Center in New Ulm. A memorial service will be at 11am on Monday, October 5, 2026 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home - SOUTH chapel in New Ulm with Pastor Ralph Flitter officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9-11am, prior to the service.

A private burial will be held at Lake Hanska Lutheran Cemetery in rural Hanska. To leave an online condolence or sign the guest book go to mvfh.org Yvonne is survived by daughter, Yvette (Paul) Mosenden of Hanska; daughter-in-law, Gail Blomquist; grandchildren, Brady (Pia) Mosenden, Shannon (Peter) Mosenden; and Briana Blomquist; great-grandchildren, Nadia, Anja, Vera and Olivia; brother, Warren (Yvonne) Blomquist; sister-in-law, Alice Blomquist; and many other relatives.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents, Levi and Ann Torgrimson; her husband, Dick (2025) and son, Kent (2025). Yvonne was born on August 27th, 1935 (on her mother’s birthday) to Levi and Anna (Ulen) Torgrimson. She grew up to be a farm girl. She loved helping her dad in the fields by riding their work horse, King. She rode on King's neck as she wasn't big enough to sit on his back. When she got older, she got to drive the tractor for the threshing crew; she earned 50 cents an hour. Yvonne also helped her mother in the chicken house by gathering eggs, and "cleaning that darn separator room". She loved all animals and especially her dogs, Jip and Skippy, and her favorite cow, Nancy. Yvonne graduated from Hanska High School in 1953, where she was a cheerleader and majorette. After graduation she attended New Ulm's School of Nursing. She went on to have a 40-year career as a surgical nurse in New Ulm. Nursing and caring for patients was where she found her passion.

On July 7th, 1956, Yvonne married her high school sweetheart, Dick Blomquist at Lake Hanska Church, rural Hanska - the same church and same day where her grandparents and parents were married. Yvonne and Dick ran a resort on Pelican Lake near Crosslake, MN for 25 years. Of course, lots of Kent and Yvette's friends came to visit - with Dick pulling water skiers and Yvonne making sure everyone got enough to eat! The lake time continues on four generations later - leaving a legacy for the extended Blomquist family. Yvonne had a knack at organizing events. She was a chairman of the Hanska Centennial Steering Committee, was at the Command Center following the 1998 tornado in the Hanska area, served on the Brown County Park commission, Lake Hanska Lake Association, Brown County Historical Society, Chairman of the Restoration Project to move the Historical Log Cabin from Omsrud Lake to Lake Hanska County Park, and also the Sons of Norway. It has been said that Yvonne is a 'wealth of information' in doing research in family genealogy, helping families find ancestry plots in Lake Hanska cemetery, and tying together her deep Norwegian roots in Veldres, Norway. Yvonne truly found joy in spending time with the grandchildren; simple things like playing games and cards. She was hard to beat in Chinese Checkers. Hide the Thimble was also a favorite. She taught the grandkids to be a whiz at card games, like Nuts and 500. She and Dick enjoyed attending the grandkids ballgames, gymnastics meets and volleyball matches (as well as the postgame conversations and ice cream cones!) “Whatever you do, try to do it the best. Not the best for everybody, but for yourself”. - Yvonne "Velsigne vare til minde"! (Blessed be her memory) In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Lake Hanska County Park and the Brown County Historical Society (archives).