Michael Toryanski

Oct. 30, 1918 - Dec. 5, 2010 The Toryanski family mourns thepassing of our dear father and friend, Michael Toryanski. Mike completed life's journey in his new home in Boise, Idaho on Sunday morningsurrounded by his loving family. He was 92 years old. Mike lived a full and glorious life. He was kind-hearted, hard-working, generous, and made friends easily. Mike was born in the back room of a shoemaker's shop during the flu pandemic of 1918 in South Saint Paul, Minnesota to immigrant parents, Ziva and Alexandra Toryanski. He was raised in a small house on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and the world's second largest stockyards. Mike spoke only Serbian and Russian until he entered the first grade where he learnedEnglish alongside his classmates. While in high school, Mike excelled in sports due to his remarkable coordination and speed. He also derived great pleasure from singing and playing in a Serbian Tamburitsa Orchestra which entertained at weddings, picnics and other doings. As a boy, Mike worked for the local baker delivering bread to homes. While delivering bread to a certain house on 1stAvenue, he noticed a young girl, also of Serbian heritage, who would laterbecome his wife of 60 years. At age 15, Mike joined his father to work in the stockyards processing cattle for market. In 1942, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and reported to Fort Snelling for duty. This began an association with our nation's armed forces that would last over 30 years. After rising through the ranks to become a non-commissioned officer, Mike was selected for officers' school and subsequently received a commission in the Army Air Corp. During World War II, he was sent to the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater where he served asthe port air officer for the cities ofBombay and Calcutta. Mike flewnumerous missions over the "hump" (Himalayan Mountains), landing on jungle airstrips in Burma to deliver equipment and supplies. He returned home four years later a captain. After WWII, Mike worked and also attended Saint Thomas College and the University of Minnesota earning a degree in business. In 1947, at a dance, he formally met the girl on his bread route, Natalie Elich, the daughter of Serbian and Montenegrin immigrants. In 1948 Mike and Natalie married. Two years later, the Air Force recalled Mike to active duty for the Korean War. After completing this military obligation, Mike returned home and took a job with Farmers Union Central Exchange a.k.a. Cenex where he worked for over 30 years. He also joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve and culminated over 30 years of military service in 1971 as commander ofseveral airlift squadrons based at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Air ReserveStation. Throughout his life he was an active member of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church where he was baptized in 1918. From 1955 to 1985, Mike took in and cared for his widowed mother-in-law, Milica Elich. He was also the primary care-giver for his beloved wife, Natalie during the last six years of her life as she battled cancer. Mike was particularly proud of his only child, son Mitchell, a West Point graduate who retired this year after 34 years of Army service as a Brevet Brigadier General in the IdahoNational Guard and who this fall was elected an Idaho State Senator. Hours after watching his son take the oath of office, with his work complete, Mike departed this world in peace. His was a long life exceedinglywell-lived. May his memory beeternal. Mike is survived by son, Mitchell (Kim); sister, Christine Nadeau; grandchildren, Marshall, Nicolas, and Natalya Toryanski; sister-in-law, Rosella Nikituk; brother-in-law, Mitchell Elich; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. Funeral Services at 12 NOON, Saturday,December 11th at SOUTHERN FUNERAL HOME (651) 451-1551, 414 Marie Avenue in So. St. Paul with a visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Interment Acacia Park Cemetery.