keeping variable info in a code behind / class file

I'm using asp.net with vb ...

I've got a webform, a code behind page, and a functions.vb page ...

everything works fine, but I want to share variables between functions ...

on my code behind page, i'll call a function in functions.vb, then it will return to the code behind, where i'll call another function from functions.vb ... when i access functions.vb again, i want some variables to be saved ... basically connection variables, that sort of nature ..

example:

Public Class functions
           Dim objConnection as connection

            Function SetConnection()
                   objConnection = whatever
            End Function
            Function 1()
                   SetConnection()
            End Function
                   'I want to be able to access the stored info from objConnection here when I called it the last time
            Function 2()

            End Function
End Class


    on my web form:

btn1_click()
           functions.Function1()

           runthisfunction()
end function

function runthisfunction()
       functions.Function2() 'here, i call function2 from the class page, there i want to be able to access objConnection without having to reset the variable ... there's more to this obviously than what i am coding .. but the framework should be the same as in this example ..
end function


thanks!!!