Steven Baumgart

Steven Waldo Baumgart was born on May 18, 1951 in Perham, Minnesota.   His parents were the late Lester Roy and Ruby Jeanette (Leonard) Baumgart.  Steve grew up on the family farm in Butler and graduated from the New York Mills High School with the class of 1969.

In February 1970, Steve enlisted in the Navy to avoid being drafted. Later that year he received a letter from a girl (Cynthia “Cindy” McCollum) from Frazee, MN asking him to be a pen pal. Never meeting, they wrote to each other until he was discharged from active duty in 1973.  When they finally met, they went out on a date and decided to make it permanent. They were married on August 17th, 1974 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Frazee. They were blessed with 3 children: Troy (1975), Teri (1977), and Trent (1979). In 1981, after working odd jobs, Steve finally took a job at Barrel O’ Fun where he worked as one of the machinists until he retired on May 4, 2017.

Steve loved the outdoors and history. It is no wonder that he would plan his vacations to go west to Medora and each year he tried to take someone who has never been there. When he planted a garden, it wasn’t for only the family…it was for anyone who asked for fresh vegetables. He was generous in everything he did, and it showed as he would refuse any payments only that you would help others when the chance came. Lately his goal was to refurbish tractors and he was able to finish the 1939 John Deer and the 1941 Farmall before he died. He believed we all can excel in something and in 1987 he won 1st place in the World Horseshoe Tournament Class Q held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Preceding Steve in death were his parents, Lester and Ruby; siblings: Virginia Pikula, Jerome “Sonny” Baumgart, Carol Collins and Barb Pikula; and his nephew, Wade Pikula.

Steve is survived by his wife of 45 years, Cindy Baumgart; children: Troy Baumgart; Teri Baumgart; Trent (Sue Kovar) Baumgart; 4 grandchildren: Bailey, Terance, Travis and Trina; siblings: Hazel (John) Gibbs; Mary (Lyle) Brown; and Donald (Myrna) Baumgart; brothers-in-law: Ronald Pikula. Duane Pikula and Gary Collins; many other relatives and a host of friends.

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