Robert Toby Graber
Apr. 11, 1944 – May 3, 2021
Robert Toby Graber, the
son of Tobias and
Genevieve (Kensinger)
Graber, was born in
Rolette County, North
Dakota on April 11, 1944.
He died suddenly on
Monday, May 3, 2021
after a short spell of heart
problems at Trinity Hos-
pital in Minot, North
Dakota.
Robert was raised on
the family farm east of
Rolette near Long Lake
and graduated as valedic-
torian from Rolette High
School in 1962. After one
year at UND, he and his
college friend who was
from Virginia struck out
east for summer jobs.
Robert’s summer lasted
thirty years in Virginia
working various jobs and
finally retiring from the
Fairfax County Police
Department in 1990 after
20 years of service. He
was united in marriage to
Rita Roy on May 11, 1984.
The couple relocated
back to Robert’s home
roots in 1995, and with
his background as a peace
officer, he serviced as
sheriff of Pierce County
for nearly three terms.
Robert had many
talents and interests. He
enjoyed building, and
along with Rita, his con-
struction partner,
designed and built two
lovely homes, one in Vir-
ginia and one in the rugby
area. His teaching and
leadership skills enabled
him to gain the trust of
youth as a visiting police
representative in the
classrooms of Virginia
teaching the dangers of
drugs and the importance
of road safety. Robert was
fascinated with trains,
especially the Great
Northern Railroad which
developed into a favorite
hobby, both in learning
the history of the railroad
and in building model
cars to scale. He enjoyed
history of any kind and
could talk about events as
though he witnessed
them. He was also an ar-
tist able to carve life-like
waterfowl. His talent
earned him the privilege
of carving the four-foot
Christ figure for the cruci-
fix over the altar of the
newly constructed parish
church in Virginia.
Robert had a beautiful
voice and loved to sing,
welcoming any oppor-
tunity to participate in
community groups and
the church choir.
Robert was a man of
strong character always
choosing to do the right
rather than the easy thing.
He was very particular
and deliberate in all he
did, doing it well or not at
all. He was a people per-
son who preferred to
drive across town to ask a
question face to face rath-
er than just phone.
Robert was a kind and a
very gentle man. He was
a dedicated loving hus-
band, father and grandfa-
ther.
Robert is survived by
his wife, Rita; his son, Ja-
son (Lisa) and stepson,
Rick, both from a previous
marriage, all of Virginia;
brothers, Rick (Cathy) of
California, Rollie (Lollie)
of Montana and Randy
(SyAnn) of Rugby; grand-
son, Tristan (Olivia) of
Florida and Christoph of
Virginia; many cousins,
nieces, nephews; other re-
latives and friends. He
was preceded in death by
a sister, Judy, an infant
brother, Ernest and his
parents.
Mass of Christian buri-
al will be held at 11:00
a.m. Monday, May 10 at
Little Flower Catholic
Church in Rugby with
burial in the church
cemetery. Father Franklin
Miller, Celebrant.
Visitation will be from
5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sun-
day with a rosary and vi-
gil prayer service begin-
ning at 7:00 p.m. at the
Anderson Funeral Home
in Rugby. Visitation will
continue on Monday from
9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the
funeral home. There will
be no reviewal at the
church.
Music by: Little Flower
Parish Choir
Reader: Monica Houim
Casket Bearers: Jason
Graber, Rick Graber, Rol-
lie Graber, Randy Graber,
George Deplazes and
Frank Graber
Honorary Bearers: Tris-
tan Graber, Christoph
Graber and the Deplazes
Redi-Mix Crew
Arrangements with the
Anderson Funeral Home
of Rugby. Online registry:
www.funeralsbyanderson
.com