Victoria “Vikki” Bernice Bauml
November 22, 1932 – February 23, 2025
Victoria Bernice Bauml, 92 years of age, of Humboldt, died peacefully at Bethany Pioneer Village on February 23, 2025, with members of her family at her side. Vikki was born on November 23, 1932 to Nicholas and Mary (nee Paradoski) Trach. She grew up on her parent's farm in Runnymede, along with her four sisters, where she worked hard tending to the cattle and a large garden. She did well academically and was active in many school sports. She received her teaching certificate in 1951 and worked at a number of schools in the Kamsack and Lake Lenore area. It was at one of the many dances she attended in Lake Lenore that she met her life partner, Ray Bauml, a local Marysburg farmer. They were married on July 18th, 1955, and began married life on their mixed farm, welcoming six children over the years.
Over and above being a busy farm wife, Vikki found time for quilting, macrame, yoga, gardening, and baking. Many of her quilts were gifted to family and she made special baby blankets. She taught yoga both at her home and through courses offered through Carlton Trail Community College. Cooking and baking weren't her favourite things to do, but everyone who partook of her efforts thoroughly enjoyed them. Her gingersnap cookie recipe has been adopted by many in her extended family and her freshly baked bread was a favourite!
Vikki had a pioneer spirit, embodying the ethic of hard work and the principles of reuse, reduce, recycle before it was a 'thing'. She also enjoyed playing cribbage (especially when she could skunk a certain son of hers) and she was a master at Trivial Pursuit. She loved dancing and would grab whichever child happened to be walking through the kitchen when the Saturday Night Dance Party was on the radio for an impromptu waltz or polka!
As the children grew up and moved away, Vikki turned her pursuits to her flower gardens and circular shaped vegetable garden, bingo, casino trips, and some travels with Ray. She created an atmosphere on the farm that her grandchildren will remember fondly – endless space to run around in, trees to climb and delicious food and treats – especially popsicles, unlimited raspberries and fruit leather.
In her later years, Vikki could be a solitary person who was content with reading, writing letters, working on crossword puzzles, and paint-by-numbers. Many of her paintings are now proudly framed and displayed on the walls of friends and family. Many of us will miss her regular letters – an art form that has lost a dedicated advocate! But she did love meeting new people and had a knack of getting to know all about them in a short amount of time. She especially enjoyed her visits with the Home Care staff that came to help her each week. Mom dearly loved getting out of her 'four walls' and being taken to the VLT machines for an afternoon of fun!
Following the amputation of her left leg at age 87, she was an inspiration to all as she continued to live independently up until a few months before her death.
Vikki's life will continue to be celebrated by her children, Pat Hamilton, Rick (Susan Anton), Cindy Hudson, Joan (Vince Jones), Rob (Corrie), and Chris (Jodie), grandchildren Justin (Jean), Adam (Kady), Bradley (Lorrisa), Cathou Alizadeh (Elias), Cailee, Caden, and Alli, and great grandchildren Rae, Ivy, Olivia, Henry, Lily, Sumayah, Syliva, and Shia, her sister Lucy, numerous nieces and nephews on both the Bauml and Trach side, as well as sisters-in-law Anne Prodahl, Joan Allen and Dorothy Hopfner. As she went toward the light to be reunited with her husband, Ray, her parents, her sisters Jeanne, Anne, and Agnes, son-in-law Dave Hamilton, and other members of the Bauml and Trach family, we sincerely hope some of the light was coming from her favourite VLT machine!
A Funeral Mass will be held at a later date. Interment will follow in the Marysburg Assumption Cemetery. Memorial donations in memory of Vikki can be directed to the Humboldt & District SPCA.
This notice placed courtesy of
Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium
Phone: 682-1622