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Leonard “Stub” Bazey, 89, near lifelong resident of Stephen, MN, died in his home surrounded by his family, on Sunday, September 18, 2022.
Leonard Lawrence Bazey was born on September 16, 1933, in Ardoch, ND. The third of ten children born to Joseph and Mae (Clark) Bazey, he went to live with his maternal grandfather at the age of 11. He had the privilege of growing to manhood under the guardianship of Charles D. Clark in Stephen, MN. Stephen remained his true “home” and would be so until the end of his days. Following his high school graduation, Stub briefly attended Concordia College before enlisting in the US Army. Serving in Japan following the Korean War, he was in the Army's 3rd Armored Division, special forces. Upon his honorable discharge in 1956, Stub returned to the Red River Valley and continued his education at UND. While there, he met a young woman who was visiting a friend and his life was forever changed. He later graduated from Concordia in 1962.
On August 2, 1958, Leonard was united in marriage to Ingrid Johnson. The two lived in East Grand Forks and Moorhead, MN while Stub was in school. They finally returned home to Stephen where they raised their children and Stub worked for Roy Benson Construction. For 30 years, he specialized in the building of bridges. Following that, he ran the Stephen City Crew for 18 years. When it came time to retire, Stub and Ingrid spent most of their time volunteering together: a decade of summers were spent in Medora (their “special spot”) and winters were full of volunteering at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Stub was a member of First Lutheran Church of Stephen and was a member of both the Stephen American Legion Post 390 and Stephen Masonic Lodge No. 279. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and carpentry work in retirement.
Stub is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Ingrid;
Daughter, Kathy (Charles) LaBine of Argyle, her son, Ryan (Tricia) Wright: Kylie, Odin, Maise, and Emmett;
Son, Todd (Kathy) Bazey of Stephen, their children, the late Aaron Bazey, Kelsey Kasprowicz: Lennon, Luke, Liam, and Kiley (Ben) Hamrick: Hayden, and Lincoln;
The late Troy Bazey's son, Nathan (Jana Bopp) Bazey: Tyson [daughter, Tatum], Rylee, Alivia, Tegan, Piper, and Karmela, son, Nick Bazey: Jacob, daughter, Kaci (Jordan) Hansen: Ann, Halle, Amelia, and Vaya;
Son, Trent (Donna) Bazey of Roseau, MN, daughter, Tori (Brandon) Newhouse: Gavin and Mason.
His extended family- step-grandchildren, Ben (Jenna) Wright: Thomas and Andrew, Gabriel, Jane, and Hannah LaBine, Brenda Green, Cindy Bondy and her family, Jamie (Jeff) Nelson and their family.
Brothers, John, Ernest (Bobbi) Bazey; sisters, Shirley Lemere, Marie Bazey; sisters-in-law, Shirley, Bernice, and Bev Bazey, and Nancy Johnson Gajeski; and many nieces, nephews, and their families.
Stub was preceded in death by his beloved son, Troy; grandson, Aaron; grandparents, including Charlie Clark; his parents; siblings, Joseph, George, and Richard Bazey, Johanna Peterson, Elaine Ostenson; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Johnson, Edward (Joyce) Wicklund; nephew, Richard Ostenson; and in-laws, Ole and Gladys (Peterson) Johnson.
SERVICE: Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 2:00 PM, in Stephen City Cemetery in Stephen, MN.
RECEPTION: To follow at First Lutheran Church of Stephen.
MILITARY HONORS: Stephen American Legion Post 390, and the US Army Honor Guard.
MEMORIALS PREFERRED TO: Shriners Hospitals for Children