Toby Nelson

Minot

Toby Nelson, 54, Minot, N.D., passed away Thursday, February 16, 2023, in Minot.

Toby Joseph Nelson was born on June 3, 1968, to Edwin and Roxy (Kinyon) Nelson, in Minot. He attended school at Des Lacs Elementary, then Parshall, ND and Granville, ND, before graduating from Minot High School in 1986. Toby continued his education at the Red Wing Technical Institute in Red Wing, MN, where he graduated in 1989.

On March 17th, 1992, he began his career as an instrument repair technician at Northwest Music in Minot. He established Prairie Winds Band Instrument Repair on April 26, 2000. He provided repairs for rental instruments, local musicians, and schools across the northern region of N.D. He purchased a standalone building in SE Minot and opened his largest location in 2018. He will be receiving two Distinguished Service awards posthumous in March from ND Music Educators Association and ND National Band Association.

Toby married the love of his life, Beth Kielhack, on September 10, 1994. The couple made their home in Minot.

Toby began playing drums with his Auntie Marcy and Uncle John in Raisin Cane when he was still in high school. And he could still be heard drumming with Tin Star, Dakota Drifters at many different venues including Norsk Hostfest. He also played tuba in Minot Community Concert Band and the Minot City Band. Toby was a strong bicycle rider. Anyone riding behind him in CANDISC and Bike the Border was thrilled to be drafting behind “The Vortex”. Toby also liked doing water aerobics with the ladies at the YMCA. He loved his dogs, Elwood, Mabel, Paddy, and Murphy.

Toby is survived by his wife of 28 years, Beth; auntie and uncle, Marcy and John Witteman; uncle, Harley (Leonie) Kinyon; cousins, Carson Witteman, Seamus (Darcie), Brendan (Leah) and Rory Kinyon; Murphy his canine companion; and other extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin Nelson and Roxy Jochimsen; and brother, Jonathan Jochimsen.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Minot.

Visitation: Friday, February 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Burial: Rolling Green Cemetery, rural Minot, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the International Music Camp or to Make a Wish Foundation.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, January 22, 2023.