Published 8:57 am Thursday, May 29, 2025
Ilene Beverly (Sorenson) King passed peacefully into Heaven on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society-Comforcare in Austin, Minnesota, surrounded by loved ones.
Ilene was born in Adams, Minnesota, to Ben and Ida Sorenson, on June 12, 1932. She grew up on a farm, the only girl along with her three brothers, on “the Johnsburg Road”, rural Adams, Minnesota.
Ilene was very active in her school and community. She graduated from Adams High School in 1950. She got a job at the grocery store in Adams, which she often spoke of fondly. With living and working in the community, Ilene made several friendships, which she continued throughout her whole life.
Ilene met the love of her life, William “Bill” King, and they were married on October 30, 1953. They had three children: Willie, David and Diane. Ilene and Bill spent their whole married life in Austin, Minnesota. At the time of Bill’s death in 2008, they would have been married nearly 55 years. Bill and Ilene loved “visiting”. They would load up the kids and go to several different relatives and friends homes and play card games into the wee hours of the morning. They also loved to dance. They were known to go to several dances, in different towns, all in the same night. In later years, when there weren’t many dances, they enjoyed trying their luck gambling at several different casinos in the area. Bill and Ilene also enjoyed traveling. They drove to Branson, Missouri and Florida at different times through the years.
Ilene was very creative. Her daughter, Diane, and Ilene even owned and operated a ceramics store in Austin. Ilene loved taking pictures and documenting her life through her many photo albums and scrapbooks.
Ilene was a very devoted mother and grandmother. This was really put to the test after her son, David’s life altering car accident, which left him disabled. She had to help raise his two kids and teach David how to do everything all over again.
Even with the extra help she needed, Ilene fought hard to hang onto her independence. In one way, she was determined to keep the car that she was able to get in and out of, so that her son, Willie, could continue to take her to where she wanted to go. One of the main places, was to her standing weekly hair appointment at Sterling Beauty Shop.
After several health complications, Ilene moved into Good Samaritan Society – Comforcare. Even though her voice would become barely audible at times, you could still catch her on the phone with old friends and family or in her electric wheelchair, visiting and making new friends. Ilene will be thought of often, missed greatly, and loved forever.
Ilene was preceded in death by her husband, Bill King; daughter, Diane King; grandson, Jeremy King; her parents, Ben and Ida Sorenson; brothers, Milo, Almon and Virgil Sorenson; parents-in-law, John and Genevieve King; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Mary King, Robert King, Louise (Paul) Kiefer, Dorthy (Glen) Frazer, Leonard Duryee, and Larry King.
Ilene is survived by her sons, William “Willie” “Bill” (Sheila) King, and David King; grandkids, Shane (Shiela) King, Billi Jo King, Daniel “Dan” DeFor, Christina “Tina” King and Joshua “Josh” King; great-grandkids, Dalton, Natalie, Christina, Austin and Cody; great-great grandkids, Amelia, Riley and Jaxon; sisters-in-law Alberta, Pat and Linda Sorenson; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Betty Duryee, James (Norma) King, Ann Olson and Lou King.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, June 6th at Little Cedar Lutheran Church in Adams, Minnesota with the Reverend Jeremey Johnson officiating. Visitation will be at the church one hour before the service. Interment will be in Little Cedar Cemetery.
The Adams Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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