Tori Marie Appelhof, 48, of Lakeville MN, was born on March 18, 1978, and died on March 18, 2026, from gastric cancer, with her family by her side.

Tori was raised on her parents' farm outside of Kranzburg, South Dakota. She graduated from Waverly High School in 1996 in a class of 17 people. After high school, she attended Westmar University in Lemars, IA, where she played basketball and softball. She transferred to South
Dakota State University and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2000. In 2003, Tori earned her Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law, keeping a promise she had made as a child – that she would one day be an attorney and leave her farm chores behind.
Tori was a strong-willed child, and had to be, to keep up with her brothers, Chad and Marty, and her extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

While in law school, Tori met Sean Maakestad and they married in 2005. They moved to Lakeville, MN, where they raised their three children, Hudson, Grace, and Gage. Tori was so proud of her children and their individual strengths and personalities. She will no doubt be watching over them as they face challenges, pursue their dreams and accomplish their goals, just as Tori did during her too-short time on earth.

Tori enjoyed their Lakeville neighborhood, where friends and neighbors became their extended family, sharing day-to-day life, special events and vacations. She was a respected member of the local business community and her community of faith at All Saints Catholic Church and School in Lakeville. The friendships she made provided strength and comfort throughout her life, especially during the last year as she fought gastric cancer.

Tori was a driven and relentless force of nature from the beginning of her legal career to the very end. She owned APH law for nearly two decades, where she was affectionately nicknamed "Boss" by her partners. Tori could charm an opposing counsel with ease without ever giving up
any leverage. Most importantly, Tori was a dedicated and fierce advocate for her clients. She was recognized by her peers as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and Super Lawyer from 2011-2026. The National Trial Lawyers also named her as one of Minnesota's top 40 trial lawyers under the age of 40.

You can take the girl off the farm in South Dakota, but you cannot take the South Dakota farm out of the girl, even when she was wearing a custom-made, monogrammed suit to court. Either way, Tori was going to throw down. And a bet on Tori was always a safe one.

Tori is survived by her husband, Sean Maakestad and their children, Hudson, Grace and Gage, her parents, Charlie and Paulette Appelhof (Goodwin, South Dakota) brothers Chad (Valynn) (Goodwin, South Dakota) and Marty (Sioux Falls, South Dakota), nephews Austin, Sam and
Greyson, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by grandparents,aunts, uncles and cousins.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, March 23, 2026, at All Saints Catholic Church, 19795 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville, Minnesota.

The Holy Rosary will be recited by Tori's maternal aunts commencing at 1:00 pm on Monday prior to the Mass.

Visitation is from 1:00-4:00 PM on Sunday, March 22, at White Funeral Home, 20134 Kenwood Trail, Lakeville, Minnesota, and from 1:00 -2:00 PM prior to the service on Monday at the church.