Mildred M. “Millie” Toenyan, 90, of St. Rosa, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family Aug. 18, 2024, at Cura of Melrose Care Center in Melrose.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 27 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with the Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Inurnment was in the parish cemetery.
Mildred Marcella Toenyan was born Sept. 6, 1933 in St. Rosa, Minnesota, to Robert and Rose (Weber) Toenyan. She attended St. Rosa Public School and later her family moved to Blackduck. Millie began working at the bakery in Blackduck as well as the telephone company as a switchboard operator. After several years in Blackduck, Millie moved to Crookston and joined the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph while completing her GED. At the age of 50, she moved to St. Joseph and attended the College of St. Benedict receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. She once again furthered her education by moving to Moorhead and earning her master’s degree at the University of Minnesota in Moorhead.
Millie was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. She enjoyed fixing jigsaw puzzles and socializing with people. She had an outgoing personality and could strike up a conversation with anyone.
Survivors include her sisters, Clara Toenyan of Albany and Barbara (Kurt) Pietrzak of Maricopa, Arizona; sister-in-law Loretta Toenyan of Comanche, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Millie was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sister Richard Toenyan and his wife, Lucilla, Clarence Toenyan and Sister Rose Mary Toenyan.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.
