Walter "Toupe" Riediger was born August 3, 1904, to Julius and Louise (Lehman) Riediger in Omro Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church of Tyro Township and attended rural district school in Omro Township. Walter's mother died in 1906 and Walter lived with his father until his death in 1956. Walter farmed the family farm in Omro Township and lived there except for the last few winters when he moved into Clarkfield and Dawson, Minnesota. He entered the Clarkfield Care Center this past Fall and died there on Tuesday, March 12, 1991, at the age of 86 years. Toupe began playing music by ear at the age of four. He could play any instrument but mostly enjoyed the accordion. Toupe played accordion and trumpet in the 1930's to 1950's with Hugo Galow on drums, Art Riediger on Saxophone and Gerhart Riediger on Banjo. They played regularly in Dawson, Wood Lake, St. Leo and other communities for house parties and dances. Later he played with Milt Miller, Joel Logeland and Marlow Skaalen. From the 1950's to 1980's, Toupe and Harry Iverson had a band. He also had been a member in the Omro Concert Band which played for parades and picnics. Walter was an excellent welder and helpful neighbor when it came to repairs. He enjoyed buying the best accordions and the frequent trading of cars for the latest model. He traveled to New Ulm, Minnesota, to purchase a special German sausage. Surviving Walter are two sisters, Cora Galow of Cando, North Dakota and Ella Marquardt of St. Paul, Minnesota, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding Walter in death were his parents; three brothers, Fred, Edward and Paul; and one sister, Elizabeth Hanson. Funeral Service: Saturday, March 16, 1991, 2:00 p.m., Lynner Funeral Home Chapel, Clarkfield, Minnesota Officiating: Pastor Travis J. Schmidt Organist: Kathy Jahn Special Music: Virginia Mary Hagg Accordion Solo Congregational Hymns: "The Lord's My Shepherd" "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" Casket Bearers: Harry Iverson, Boyd Long, Leonard Lange, Paul Pipke, Vernon Loose, Delbert Zietlow Final Resting Place: Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Tyro Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota