Mike was a tried-and-true farmer, wholly devoted to his craft, which his always dirty hats were a testament to—he could nearly always be found driving around surveying his crops. A true Minnesotan, he made a ritual out of going to the lake as much as he could; pontoon rides, watching the sunset over the lake while sitting by the fire, and watching his grandchildren grow up on the same lake he did. He embraced all Minnesota sports, being especially fond of the Gophers, Twins, and Vikings. Like any typical small-town Minnesotan, he also loved bingo and playing buck euchre, and trips away to warmer states like Florida. Elton John was rumored to be one of Mike’s biggest fans, or maybe it was the other way around, and he developed a later in life fascination with the gameshow the “Price is Right.” He cherished his dogs, but even more so, his family and grandchildren and he loved being an active basketball coach for his sons.