Rolland "Rollie" Toupin

Rolland Eugene Toupin, 87, left this earth to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, January 22, 2021. He was just a few weeks shy of his 88th birthday.

Rolland “Rollie” was born February 6, 1933 to Rolland and Edith (Bratton), the eldest of five children. He was raised in Mentor, MN where he grew to enjoy hunting, fishing and athletics. Rollie was a three-sport standout, and basketball proved to be his favorite. A three-year starter, Rollie capped his senior basketball season averaging 30 pts per game. After graduation from Mentor High School in 1951, Rollie attended Moorhead State Teachers College. In 1953, he enlisted in the US Army, serving until his honorable discharge on Christmas Eve 1954.

Rollie was married to Donna Eckstein on April 27, 1957. To this union were born two daughters, Stacy and Lori. He worked for the US Postal Service and Johnson Brothers Wholesale Liquors for several years before following family footsteps into the hospitality industry. Rollie and Donna purchased Toupin’s Chalet in Warren, MN in 1974 and successfully operated the restaurant, bar, lounge, package store and catering business for over 20 years. While running the Chalet, he found time to golf, obtain his pilots license and train several hunting dogs. Rollie and Donna sold the business and retired in 1996. Rollie was a faithful supporter of Ducks Unlimited and continued his love for hunting and fishing long into retirement. He never relinquished his love of sports, giving special attention to MN State High School and NBA basketball leagues. Rollie also became an avid reader of countless books; most importantly, the Bible, with which he renewed his faith in the Lord and became a member of Zion Lutheran Church.

Rollie is survived by the love of his life “my sweetie’, Donna; daughters, Stacy(Mark) Plencner, Sun Lakes, AZ, Lori (Eric) Johnson, Warren, MN; sisters, Nancy Grant, Anchorage, AK, Lavonne Sjovold, San Jose, CA; brother, Greg (Liz) Toupin, Erskine, MN; grandsons, Joshua (Jessica Berg) Plencner, Oswego, NY, Joseph (Katy) Plencner, Phoenix, AZ, Jordan (Brooke) Johnson, Warren, MN, Justin (Jazmyn) Johnson, Grand Forks, ND; and great-grandchildren, Brynlie, Rowan and Eden Johnson, Boe, Hailey, and Jolene Johnson, and Charles Plencner; along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Rollie in death were his parents; and brother, Fred.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Zion Lutheran Church of Warren, North Star Manor, the WAO Education Foundation, or Hospice of the Red River Valley.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Monday, January 25, 2021, at 2:45 PM. in Greenwood Cemetery in Warren, MN.
MILITARY HONORS: Warren American Legion Post #27 and the Minnesota National Honor Guard.
PRIVATE FAMILY FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, January 25, 2021, at 2:00 PM at Zion Lutheran Church LCMS in Warren, MN.

To watch a video of Rollie's service, please click the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/165181363494299/videos/233038254975914

Toupins employed hundreds of people from the surrounding area, introducing them to the importance of customer service for the thousands who patronized their establishment over two-plus decades. A post on the DuBore Funeral Home website expressing past pleasures you enjoyed at Toupin's Chalet would be heartwarming for Donna and the family.