Sylvia Mae Baumgartner

Sylvia Mae (Sorum) Baumgartner, 87, of Litchfield died Saturday, September 7th at her home in Litchfield, MN with Lisa and Aaron Bonds by her side. Memorial service will be at 2 pm, Friday, September 13, at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will in Lake Ripley Cemetery.

Sylvia Mae (Sorum) Baumgartner, daughter of Orville and Bernice (Halbakken), was born June 20, 1937, in Pelican Rapids, MN. She graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1955. Sylvia met Carl while he was working for Johnson Bros. Corporation on a job building the road that ran past her family's farm. On July 16, 1955, she was united in marriage to Carl Baumgartner in Rothsay, MN. Together they moved to several states as they followed Carl's work. They settled in Litchfield, MN in 1972. Sylvia built a warm, loving and incredibly well-organized home everywhere they lived. She was the consummate entertainer, and nothing made her happier than a beautifully decorated table full of family, friends, food and laughter. Sylvia's pride in her Norwegian heritage was notorious and she always had a twinkle in her eye as she greeted everyone in Norwegian. Carl and Sylvia traveled across the United States and around the world and she loved telling stories of their adventures. As a friend noted, Sylvia was the hardest working, kindest lady. She could do anything, and, ran circles around most people half her age. Always in motion -- she loved using her riding lawnmower to keep her property looking like a perfectly manicured park. She leaves behind her church family at First Lutheran; a very sad Friday-night Legion crew; dear friends; beloved family and hundreds of perfectly and beautifully embroidered dish towels.

She is survived by her sister, Beverly (Jerry) Sanden; children, Allen Baumgartner of Strasburg, CO, and Lisa (Aaron) Bonds of Robbinsdale; daughter-in-law Mattie (Robinson) Baumgartner; daughter-in-law, Margaret (Maude) Baumgartner of Strasburg, CO; grandchildren, Karissa (Ike) Isakson, Adam (Leslie) Baumgartner, Prudence Bonds, Joshua Baumgartner, Jacob (Melissa) Baumgartner, Casey, Brianna (fiancé Jay) and Benjamin Baumgartner; great grandchildren, Cory (fiancé Taryn) Ringwelski, Allyson Isakson, Amanda Isakson, Trinity Greene, Brady and Addison Baumgartner and Mason Baumgartner; and great-great-grandchildren, Gauge and Gabrielle Ringwelski and Tatum Baumgartner. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Carl Baumgartner; her son, Wayne Baumgartner; parents; brothers Reuben, Selvin, Lyle and Orrin and a sister, Mavis Holt.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN. Arrangements by Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home, Litchfield.