Donald Baumgart

Donald (Don) Baumgart was born November 8, 1948 at St. James Hospital in Perham, MN.  His parents were the late Lester Roy and Ruby Jeanette (Leonard) Baumgart. Don grew up on the family farm in Butler. He attended New York Mills High School and graduated with the class of 1966. 

Don enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1967 and was on active duty from November 1968 through October 1970.  He served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Oklahoma City in the South China Sea and later at Port in Vietnam.

Upon returning from military service, Don lived on and worked the family farm, growing grains and hay and raising dairy and beef cattle. Don enjoyed visiting with family and friends and spending time outdoors taking care of the farm and his animals. He hunted often, and in 1973 bagged a trophy buck, of which he was very proud.

Don and Myrna (Maaninga) Lapinoja were united in marriage January 11, 1996 in Sisseton, South Dakota.  He worked part-time at Don’s Minerals and then worked full-time at Mickelson Turkey Farm, Wolf Lake for 12 years while managing his own farming operation.

Don had a special fondness for his cats, both indoor and outdoor, and found companionship, comfort and entertainment from spending time with them.

Don retired from farming in 2015. Following a medical event and subsequent need for nursing care in December 2017, he became a resident of the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga.  Don was transferred to the Fergus Falls Veterans Home in February 2019 and resided there until his death.

Don passed away June 1, 2021 at the Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls, Minnesota at 72 years of age.  He will be dearly missed by his friends and family. 

Preceding Don in death are his parents: Lester and Ruby Baumgart; siblings: Virginia Pikula, Jerome “Sonny” Baumgart, Carol Collins, Barb Pikula, Steve Baumgart and Mary Brown; father-in-law, Melvin Maaninga and brother-in law, Bryan Maaninga.

Surviving Don is his loving wife of 25 years, Myrna, of Menahga; stepsons: Nathan Lapinoja and Justin Lapinoja of Fargo, North Dakota; sister: Hazel (John) Gibbs of Meadview, Arizona; mother-in-law, Darlene Maaninga; sister-in-law: Cindy Baumgart of New York Mills; brothers-in-law: Ron Pikula of New York Mills, Gary Collins of Detroit Lakes, Duane Pikula, Lyle Brown of Menahga; Wayne Maaninga and Darryn Maaninga; and many other relatives and a host of friends.

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