Charles Irving “Chuck” Toft, 88, died on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, at the Evergreens at Spring Valley Senior Living in Spring Valley.

Chuck was born Jan. 31, 1925, in Albert Lea, the son of Irvin and Cora (Gunderson) Toft. He was raised in Ellendale where he was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. He graduated from Ellendale High School in 1943.

He entered the U.S. Army in 1945 serving as a paratrooper in the Airborne during World War II in Europe. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

<a href=”http://www.albertleatribune.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2013/11/1114.obit_.toft_.jpg”><img alt=”Charles Toft” src=”http://www.albertleatribune.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2013/11/1114.obit_.toft_.jpg” width=”103″ height=”137″ /></a> Charles Toft

He married Margy Dene Sorenson on July 6, 1947, at the Hartland Lutheran Church in Hartland. He worked for Sorenson and Sons Trucking and farmed in the Ellendale, Hartland and Hayward areas until moving to Spring Valley in 1958 to work for Ruan Transport Company. He retired from Ruan in 1987 and continued his passion for farming on his hobby farm outside of Spring Valley.

Chuck was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley where he served as a past usher. He was also a member of the Spring Valley American Legion and VFW Posts. He was proud of his service to his country and was recently honored to be a part of the World War II Honor Flight.

He loved time spent with his children, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He liked to travel, have coffee with friends or just putter on his farm. He was a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, grandpa, son and brother. He will be deeply missed by family and friends.

Chuck is survived by his daughters, Penny (Garry) Nordhorn of Owatonna, Peggy (Randy) Babbitt of Breckenridge, Colo., and Sarah (Brent) Kohn of Spring Valley; grandchildren Jane (Jeff) Nordhorn Allen, Karren (Justin) Taillon, Kris (Neil) Odenbaugh and Gabriel (Francise) Kohn; great-grandchildren Ben Odenbaugh, Owen Taillon and Annie Odenbaugh; sister, Phyllis Toft of Taft, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 61 years, Margy; an infant granddaughter; sisters Olive, Carol and Grace Toft; and brothers Gordon, Kenneth, James and Paul Toft.

The funeral will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with the Revs. Dennis Timmerman and Laura Fladten co-officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will be in the church cemetery in Spring Valley. Friends may call at the Thauwald Funeral Home in Spring Valley from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and an hour before the service at the church on Tuesday.

The family prefers memorials to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be left at www.thauwaldfuneralhomes.com.