by Kent Baumberger Obituary, Death – After a protracted battle with illness, Mr. Kent William Baumberger, 48, of Miller, South Dakota, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Donations in place of flowers can be sent to the following addresses: SDSRM Range Endowment, Attn: Jeff Vanderwilt.25823 East Enemy Creek, Mitchell, South Dakota 57301 and Hand County 4-H Shooting Sports, 415 W. 1st Ave #105, Miller, South Dakota 57362.
The 22nd of September, 1974 found Rod and Sharon (Wagner) Baumberger welcoming their son Kent into the world in Philip, South Dakota. He received his diploma from Sturgis Brown High School, as well as his degree in Range Management, from South Dakota State University. He was raised by his older brother and sister, who kept a close eye on him as he was growing up. He was happiest when he was hunting and spending time with his dogs, horses, and other animals (including Brandy, Bandit, Jessie, Maggy, Doc, and Buddy).
For the past 26 years, Kent has been employed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service in the cities of Pierre, Webster, McIntosh, and Timber Lake, as well as Miller. He took great pleasure in assisting farmers and ranchers with the implementation of conservation practices on their land and giving them with technical help. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, the Society for Range Management.
The SD Section of the Society for Range Management, the Naja Shrine (lifetime member), the Naja Cowboys, the Yeldez Drovers, the SD Grassland Coalition, and the Lemmon Masonic Lodge AF@AM. He participated in the Miller 4-H shooting sports on a regular basis, which included the BB Gun, Shotgun, and Archery. He was also actively involved in the Miller community’s youth activities.
When he was younger, he was involved in 4-H and took part in range judging competitions on a local, state, and national level. The National Range and Pasture Contest was held in Oklahoma, and he was a part of the 4-H team that won first place in the competition. In addition to that, he was a member of the SDSU Range Club and took part in the university’s Plant Identification contest. In total, he competed in four national competitions.
In addition to that, he was an active participant in a number of South Dakota Range Camps, South Dakota Rangeland Days, and Ag Lenders Range School, where he aided with education. In addition, Kent’s father, brother, and brother-in-law liked competing with him in team roping, and the four of them ended up winning a number of saddles and belt buckles.
