July 13, 1935 ~ August 1, 2022
Bill Toellner, 87 year old Woodward resident, passed away Monday, August 1, 2022 in Epworth Villa at Oklahoma City. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 7, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church in Woodward with Reverend Shannon Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the Fargo Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.
Bill Ray Toellner was born on July 13, 1935 in Shattuck, Oklahoma to Albert Ray and Mildred Lee (Mariner) Toellner. He grew up in Fargo and attended and graduated from Fargo High School in 1953. After Bill's father died in 1954, he took on some of the family land to start his own farming operation. He also followed after his father in the custom harvesting business. He joined with several crews in the Fargo area that made the summer trek to Montana to supplement their farming income, and efficiently utilize their equipment. When his own farming operation grew too big for him to custom harvest himself, he still felt the call of the road in the summer by supporting his son and grandson to start their own venture of custom harvesting.
He was united in marriage to Donna Rae Story on September 3, 1963 in the minister's study at the First United Methodist Church in Woodward, Oklahoma. They were blessed with two children: Tammie Dawn and William Joe. Bill and Donna made their first home in a trailer home in Fargo in 1963 and in 1968 they purchased a small home in the Fargo community. In 1972 they built a new home on the Shattuck Sharon Road southeast of Gage, the beginning of the Toellner Homestead. They continued living there until moving to Woodward in 2003.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Bill served as President of the Ellis County Farm Bureau for several years and was also a member of the Ellis County Industrial Authority. He was also active in securing some of the equipment for the Gage Fire Department. Bill operated his farm adapting modern methods and technology. He was a pioneer in establishing irrigation as part of his operation. The Toellners continue to this day in the farming industry with their son William being the managing operator. Bill's greatest joy was his family and he was always thrilled when they showed up!
He is survived by his wife Donna Toellner of the home; one daughter, Tammie Garrison and friend Brian Smith of Oklahoma City; one son, William Toellner and wife Laura of Woodward; grandchildren: Riley Garrison, Bailor and Blake Toellner, Greg and Laura Grunewald, Dustin and Sarah Dorsey, Sage and Danielle Minnick, Dallyn and Tyler Visone; great-grandchildren: Birdie B, Max, Sutton, and Luke, Abigayle, Sullivan, and Coen, Penelope and Asher, Bowen and Nora; one brother Robert Toellner and wife Rose of Duncan; Sister-in-law Zelda Norman of Stillwater and many other relatives and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his Father-in-law R.C. Story.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church with the funeral home accepting the contributions.
Remembrances may be shared online at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com