Beloved Willmar Resident Mae Forstrom Passes Away at 97

Bonita Springs, Florida, USA - On July 4, 2025, Mildred Mae (Torgerud) Forstrom, at the age of 97, passed away peacefully at Copperleaf Assisted Living in Willmar. Mae, who left an indelible mark on her community, will be remembered fondly by many. Her memorial service is set for 11:00 am on July 12 at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar, with visitation one hour prior. Following the service, her private burial will take place at Cloverleaf Cemetery in Willmar, arranged by Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home.

Mildred Mae was born on September 6, 1927, in rural Rushford, Minnesota, to Floyd and Clara (Fossum). After graduating from Rushford High School in 1945, she started her professional journey in an insurance office located in Minneapolis. The next significant chapter in her life began when she married Herlon “Herk” Forstrom on May 28, 1949, in Webster, South Dakota. The couple later moved to Willmar, where they enjoyed many happy years together on Eagle Lake.

A Life Well Lived

Her career at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center spanned 36 years, culminating in her retirement in 1986. After Herk’s passing, Mae didn’t slow down; she began exploring the country on bus tours with her friend, Carley Braband. Her adventurous spirit had led her and Herk to spend 13 winters in Bonita Springs, Florida, spanning decades filled with cherished memories.

Mae was preceded in death by her husband, Herk; her parents; her sister and brother-in-law; her in-laws; and a nephew. Surviving her are her brother and sister-in-law, Gordie and Eileen Torgerud of Delano, alongside numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her dearly.

Ensuring Quality in Assisted Living

Families faced with the challenges of finding quality care for their loved ones can take solace in Minnesota’s commitment to transparency in assisted living services. Minnesota’s Department of Human Services has instituted an Assisted Living Report Card that aims to assess the quality of care across various facilities. This initiative is a collaboration between the DHS Aging and Adult Services Division and the Minnesota Board on Aging, designed to provide reliable information for families navigating their care options.DHS reports that the report card offers ongoing updates as new data become available, enhancing the understanding of resident health, safety, and staffing in assisted living settings.

As of February 2025, the report has been expanded to include ratings for 1,095 assisted living facilities. This is significant because it covers approximately half of Minnesota’s assisted living providers, shaking up the scene with almost 86% of the state’s licensed capacity now under scrutiny. The report card started in January 2024 with initial assessments of 450 facilities, incorporating continuous improvement measures based on resident feedback and safety evaluations.

Further updates are expected as the DHS will publish new quality of life rating thresholds, underlining how important it is for families to stay informed. The upcoming updates will reflect surveys conducted by Vital Research, which are set to begin in April 2025, as part of an ongoing effort to keep assisted living facilities accountable to the residents and families they serve.

For questions regarding the assisted living initiative, families can reach out via email at dhs.aasd.hcbs@state.mn.us. As we reflect on the life of Mae Forstrom and others, the importance of quality care in later life remains a priority for communities across Minnesota.

For more on Mae Forstrom’s life, visit the Willmar Tribune obituary. To learn more about the Assisted Living Report Card and the work being done for Minnesota’s elderly population, check out this comprehensive overview.