Maynard Baratto

Maynard A. Baratto

Maynard A. Baratto, 83, Hibbing, was welcomed to heaven by his grandson Joseph Brownell on Saturday January 20, 2018.  He was born in Hibbing to John and Mildred (Forstrom) Baratto on August 19, 1934.  Maynard had an adventurous spirit.  His early years involved ski jumping, riding horses, water skiing, and anything else that quenched his thirst for adventure.  As a teenager, he started work at the Oliver Mining Company in an effort to support his family after his father fell ill.  Maynard entered the Navy in his early twenties serving on naval air stations in California, Florida and Minnesota, until honorably discharged.      Upon his return to Hibbing, he married Shari (Chase) Baratto and together, they had four children.  Maynard was employed by the Western Insurance Company as a Claims Manager for 15 years.  While in the Navy, Maynard learned to scuba dive. He utilized his skills as a scuba diver to open up a Dive Shop in Hibbing where he shared his passion to give scuba diving lessons to others.  After discovering his love for flight while serving in the NAS, Maynard pursued his private pilot's license.  His adventurous spirit in his single-engine airplane led him to the Arctic, the Caribbean, and many points in between.  In 1973, Maynard, along with his brother John, opened the Brothers II Bar in Hibbing.  In 1978, Maynard married Sally (Salo) Baratto and together, they owned and operated Pine Beach Resort and Supper Club in Side Lake, MN.  From 1984-1988, he and Sally took a hiatus from the resort to move to the Virgin Islands where they purchased and lived on a sailboat.  It was here that Maynard acquired his Captain's license so that he and Sally could take friends and many others on day sails. On occasion, Maynard helped a good friend deliver sailboats from Chesapeake Bay to the Virgin Islands.  Upon their return to Minnesota, Maynard and Sally resumed operating Pine Beach Resort and campground.  During that time, Maynard worked for the National Park Service in Northern Minnesota.  In 2000, he took his 38-foot motorboat through the intra-coastal waterways to southern Belize via the Florida Keys, Cuba, and Mexico.  Maynard and Sally spent the next 10 winters deep sea fishing and enjoying the relationships that they had made.  Maynard was an avid outdoorsman his entire life, enjoying hunting and fishing with all of his friends and family.  Maynard retired to the Salo farm in Silica where they enjoyed their horses and other animals.  Some of Maynard's favorite things to do throughout his life were dancing to the songs of the Big Band Era and spending time with his family at Harriet Lake.

He is survived by his wife Sally, children, Barrie Baratto, Hibbing, Stephanie  (Lonnie) Mjolsness, Coleraine, John (Angie) Baratto, Grand Rapids, Stacey (Shane Erickson) Baratto, Grand Rapids, two brothers, John (Joanne) Baratto, Hibbing and Mark Baratto, Mpls., 11 grandchildren, John Brownell, Cody Mjolsness, Katie (Aaron) Young, Chance, Delaney and Avery Mjolsness, Samantha and Sawyer Baratto, and Garrett, Grant, and Gray “Gus” Erickson, 2 great grandchildren, Athena Young and Bridget Schmidt. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Joseph Brownell.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, January 25, 2018 in First Lutheran Church in Hibbing with the Rev. Bruce Dissell officiating.  Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Wednesday in the Dougherty Funeral Home and continue at church on Thursday at 10:00 am.  Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery.  Military Honors will be accorded by Mid-Range Honor Guard.