Tobias "Toby" Allen Moran

Mass of Christian Burial for Tobias “Toby” Moran, of Aberdeen, will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 24, 2014, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father J. Joseph Holzhauser, Celebrant, and Toby’s classmate, Deacon Alfred “Bud” Jetty of St. James Parish in Chamberlain, SD, assisting. Toby’s wishes were to be cremated with burial, including Military Rites conducted by Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post #24 of Aberdeen, taking place at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign his online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.

Visitation will be 5-6 p.m., Sunday, at the mortuary, followed by a Liturgical Wake Service and Rosary at 6:00 p.m. Visitation continues for one hour prior to Mass at the church on Monday.

Toby passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at his home in Aberdeen.

Tobias Allen Moran was born on July 13, 1934, to Roger and Theresa (Morin) Moran in Poplar, Montana. He attended elementary school in Wolf Point, Montana before attending and graduating from St. Paul’s Indian Mission in Marty, SD, in 1953.

Toby volunteered for military duty and served his country in the United States Army for sixteen months in Korea from 1953 until 1954, when he received his Honorable Discharge.

Following his return to South Dakota, Toby attended and graduated from Northern State Teacher’s College (now Northern State University) in 1960, when he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

Toby was united in marriage to Claudette Rose Taylor on August 10, 1957, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fort Yates, ND. The couple made their home in Wahpeton, ND, where Toby taught school and coached at the Wahpeton Indian School for nine years before returning to Aberdeen. He then began a 33-year career working various jobs with the Aberdeen Area Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs before retiring. Toby continued to make Aberdeen his home following retirement and spent his remaining years doing community and church related volunteer work.

He loved his family and especially enjoyed watching his beloved wife, Claudette, tend to the needs of their grandchildren. An evangelist group named “Light of The World” at St. Mary’s Parish renewed his life as a Christian and companion to his fellow parishioners. Throughout his life, Toby also enjoyed playing guitar, hunting, fishing, playing softball, bowling and golf. He was a member of the State Board of Urban Indian Health, the Aberdeen Senior Center, RSVP, NARFE and the VFW.

Toby is survived by his wife, Claudette Moran of Aberdeen; four children: Beverly Moran of Albuquerque, NM, Marty (Bernie) Moran of Aberdeen, Val (Todd) Christians of Aberdeen, and Mike Moran and Francine Fast Horse of Leesburg, VA; eight grandchildren: Drew, Amber, Carli, Sam, Andrea, Miles, Matthew, and Zayne; one great-grandchild, Lincoln; one brother, Alfred (Rose) Moran of Montana; and two sisters, Margie (Jerry) White of Wisconsin and Madona LeCaine of Los Angeles, CA.

Toby was preceded in death by his fraternal and maternal grandparents, parents, Roger and Theresa; five brothers: Roger Moran, Charles Moran, Reuben Moran, Bernard Moran, and Sylvester Moran; and three sisters: Grace Moran, Cecelia Moran, and Agnes Garfield.