Wallace "Wally" J. Toupal, 84 of Avon

Wally died Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 17, 2011 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Wagner. Burial will be in the ZCBJ Cemetery, rural Wagner, with military honors. Visitation will be at Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Avon from 2 to 7 Thursday.

Wallace "Wally" James Toupal, son of Anton and Christena (Sluka) Toupal, was born October 4, 1926 in rural Brule County, near Kimball, SD. He died Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Wally attained the age of 84 years, eight months and 11 days.

Wally attended Richland Rural School in rural Kimball. He farmed with his family until his service in the U.S. Army from May 5, 1945 to December 10, 1946. He served with the occupation force in Japan. After the war, Wally returned to South Dakota and owned a bar and grill in Chamberlain for a short time. In 1952, he then began his career as project foreman with Redlinger Brothers. He worked on the St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, then in Mitchell, Wagner and then to the Yankton Hospital project in 1965. Wally also farmed from 1974 until he retired in 1987.

Wally met Olga R. Stogsdill, the widowed mother of five young children, while working in Wagner. They were married December 13, 1963 in Mitchell. To their union two sons were born. They were blessed with nearly 45 years of marriage. Olga died November 11, 2008.

Wally was a member of the Sigel Catholic Church in Utica, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton and St. John the Baptist in Wagner. He also was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Moose Lodge and Elk's Lodge.

Wally enjoyed livestock, hunting and working the land. He especially loved his family and had just organized a family reunion for the extended family, as he loved family get togethers. Wally was a man of few words, but when he spoke, one listened.

Thankful for having shared his life are his children: Jim Toupal and wife Pam of Dante; Jerry Toupal and wife Dea of Sioux Falls; Lana Dodge and husband Dennis of Avon; Linda Morse and husband Ray of Elko, NV; Leonard Stogsdill, Jr. and wife Linda of Aberdeen; Gene Stogsdill and wife Vicki of Tabor; and Lawrence Stogsdill and wife Polly of Lakeside, CA; 12 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two sisters: Marcella "Marcie" Chmela of Kimball and Helen Peterson and husband Ray of Tracy, MN; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Wally was preceded in death by his wife; parents; five brothers: Jimmy who died at the age of six, Willard, Harry, John and Jerry; and five sisters: Doreen who died in infancy, Sue Almjeld, Leverne Peters, Florence Pazour, and Virginia "Virgie" Soulek.