- Date Of Birth: October 30, 1918
- Date Of Death: December 5, 2010
- State: Idaho
The Toryanski family mourns the passing of our dear father and friend Michael Toryanski. Mike completed life’s journey in his new home in Boise, Idaho on Sunday morning surrounded by his loving family. He was 92 years old. Mike lived a full and glorious life. He was kind-hearted, hard-working, generous, and made friends easily.
Mike was born in the back room of a shoemaker’s shop during the flu pandemic of 1918 in South Saint Paul, Minnesota to immigrant parents Ziva and Alexandra Toryanski. He was raised in a small house on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and the world’s second largest stockyards.
Mike spoke only Serbian and Russian until he entered the first grade where he learned English alongside his classmates. While in high school, Mike excelled in sports due to his remarkable coordination and speed.
As a boy, Mike worked for the local baker delivering bread to homes. While delivering bread to a certain house on 1st Avenue, he noticed a young girl, also of Serbian heritage, who would later become his wife of 60 years.
At age 15, Mike joined his father to work in the stockyards processing cattle for market. In 1942, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and reported to Fort Snelling for duty. This began an association with our nation’s armed forces that would last over 30 years. After rising through the ranks to become a non-commissioned officer, Mike was selected for officers’ school and subsequently received a commission in the Army Air Corp. During World War II, he was sent to the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater where he served as the port air officer for the cities of Bombay and Calcutta. Mike flew numerous missions over the “hump” (Himalayan Mountains), landing on jungle airstrips in Burma to deliver equipment and supplies. He returned home four years later a captain.
His was a long life exceedingly well-lived. May his memory be eternal. Mike is survived by son, Mitchell (Kim); sister, Christine Nadeau; grandchildren, Marshall, Nicolas, and Natalya Toryanski; sister-in-law, Rosella Nikituk; brother-in-law, Mitchell Elich; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.
