Ralph 'Toby' Dennis Maanum

A Memorial Service for Ralph “Toby” Maanum of Graceville will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Chokio with Pastoral Minister, Abby Weick officiating. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Summit Cemetery in Morris.

Ralph “Toby” Dennis Maanum was born on July 23, 1928 in Hoff Township, Pope County, Minnesota the son of Elmer and Cora (Garlie) Maanum. As a child, he lived in a number of places including, Hancock, Chokio, St. Louis, Coeur d’Alene, ID, Tillamook, OR, San Diego, CA and finally back to Chokio where he graduated from Chokio High School, Class of 1947.

On November 28, 1953, Toby was united in marriage to Dorothy Keeler at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They made their home for a short time in the area and welcomed their first daughter, LuAnn. Toby was drafted into the military shortly after. Toby went to boot camp in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Dorothy and LuAnn joined him in Virginia while Toby was receiving his training as a helicopter mechanic. Once he was done with his training, Toby, Dorothy, and LuAnn moved to Germany where Toby was stationed. In November of 1956, they returned to Chokio and purchased a farm and added to their family, welcoming four more children. In 1964, they bought their acreage near Johnson, Minnesota, and after renovations were made, they moved to that farm in 1970. Along with farming, Toby and Dorothy owned and operated DeGraff Grain, Inc. They remained on the Johnson acreage until 2019, when the couple moved into Grace Village in Graceville.

Toby enjoyed farming, antique tractors and restoring them. His adventurous spirit prompted him to build his own ultralight plane with which he made a number of “unscheduled landings”.

Toby died Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Fairway View Senior Community in Ortonville. He was 97 years old.

Survivors include his sons: Mike Maanum of Johnson, Pat (Mona) Maanum of Johnson, and Tom (Karen) Maanum of Graceville; grandchildren: Leah (Mike) Timberlake Sullivan of St. Paul, Alexa (Joshua) Shirley of Littleton, CO, Kari Maanum of Moorhead, MN, Riley (Brandie) Maanum of Dumont, Austin (Savanna) Maanum of Graceville, Sam (Hannah) Maanum of Johnson, Charlie (Courtany) Maanum of Beardsley, and Marlie (Christian) Elmer of Des Moines, IA; great-grandchildren: Isaac, Noah, and Sarah Timberlake, Thomas Sullivan, Ridley, Loren, and Arlie Maanum, Everett and Lincoln Maanum, Emmitt and Cooper Maanum, Coralee and Scotlyn Maanum and Jameson Shirley; brother-in-law, Ray Keeler of Chokio and sister-in-law, Lorraine Keeler of Two Harbors, MN.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy (2024); daughters, LuAnn Maanum (2023) and Susan Maanum (1958); grandson, Brian Maanum; father, Elmer, mother, Cora (Bennie) Boldenow; brothers-in-law, John “Wayne” Keeler and Jim Keeler and sister-in-law, Kathy Keeler.

The Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of the arrangements for Toby.