Michael Frederick Baute

Michael Baute was born on September 25, 1942, at the Virginia Mason Clinic in Seattle. His early childhood life with his older brother, Steve, involved living in small towns like Grandview, Prosser and Kent, Washington. While at Kent Meridian High School, Michael was a National Merit Scholar, and captain of the debate team and basketball team. He graduated in 1960.

Though Michael was accepted to attend Stanford University, he chose to be a Husky and attended the UW and raised his son Mark, while getting a bachelor's degree in economics. Michael worked full time during college, opening and owning grocery stores and butcher shops, while coaching Mark's youth sports teams, and teaching the apprenticeship meatcutting course at South Seattle Community College.

In 1977, Michael was involved in union work for the meat cutter's union, and was lucky enough to meet the love of his life, Sally Baute, who was also engaged in union work for the retail clerk's union. They met on a picket line, got married in 1979, and spent the next 44 years laughing, travelling and working. Along the way Michael managed to bowl 299 in his bowling league, while also opening a new business, Always Jukin, a collectibles juke box aficionado magazine, which grew to 5,000 subscribers and became a full time two decade career that enabled Mike and Sally to retire at age 62 and travel the world, to places like Egypt, Paris, London, Australia, New York and all over the Pacific Northwest and Washington State. Michael's life was deeply enriched by his good fortune in marrying Sally Baute, and the 44 years from 1979 until his passing in June 11, 2023, were the best years of his life. Michael coached and mentored many young men in multiple sports, and played men's league softball with the younger guys until he was 55. His advice as a father to his son was always solid, and his sense of humor was deeply appreciated by everyone.

When he passed, Michael was making jokes until the very end, and expressing his love for Sally and Mark, and when he died his right hand was being held by Mark and his left hand held by Sally. Michael is survived by his wife Sally, son Mark, stepson Chris, six grandchildren and one great grandchild. We wish Mike peace on his next journey.