Toebe Russell William Toebe was born to Arthur and Emma (Wagner) Toebe in Minneapolis, MN on January 13, 1921. He grew up in McGrath, MN where he was an avid athlete. After his junior year in high school, Russ worked for two years in Oregon with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He returned to Minnesota and graduated from McGrath High School in 1941. He married his first wife Connie, and they had a son, Tom. Russell joined the U.S. Navy and served as a medic in Okinawa during World War II. After honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to Minneapolis and took Air Conditioning & Refrigeration coursework through Dunwoody Institute. Russell married Virginia Esther Hersom on November 20, 1948. They have been married 57 years. Toebe & Virginia worked and lived in Minneapolis, Denver and Willmar before moving to Baudette in 1962. They raised four children: Della, Karen, Lornell and Tim. Toebe worked in his own business and for other companies, such as Westinghouse. His last job before retiring was as an Air Conditioning-Refrigeration foreman and instructor at the Baudette Air Force Station. He retired in 1976 and continued to live in the Baudette area. Russ really cared about the Baudette community. He served in the American Legion, the Baudette V.F.W., the Baudette Moose Lodge; Osirus Lodge #242 of A.F. & A.M., where he led as Post Commander, Governor, and Master of the Masonic Lodge. He wanted to re-kindle the community spirit so he established the old-fashioned 4th of July celebration in the 1970s. Toebe was also an active member of the Canadian Legion and First Lutheran Church and Choir. He played and coached softball in Minneapolis and Baudette. He enthusiastically supported and coached Baudette Youth Hockey. He loved hunting deer and grouse, fishing for walleye and ice fishing in his self- built ice-house, reading western novels, singing songs and telling stories in his deep, rich, bass voice. Russell died at the Lakewood Care Center on March 28, 2005 and will be buried in the Veterans' Park at Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette. Russ is survived by his wife Virginia; sisters Anita Diem of Flint, Michigan, and June Kelton of Dayton, MN; brother Leroy and sister-in-law Eileen Toebe of Minneapolis; sons Thomas Toebe of Sarasota, FL, and Tim and daughter-in-law Colleen Toebe of Baudette; daughters Della Toebe of Arden Hills, MN, Karen Toebe of Denver, CO, and Lornell and son- in-law Ted Brand of Roseville, MN; and grandchildren Christian, Tracy, Virginia, and Laura. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Allan Toebe, and his sister Iris Pietrzak. Services will be held on Thursday, March 31st at 4:00 PM at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Roseville, MN and on Saturday, April 2nd at 2:00 PM at First Lutheran Church in Baudette.