Daniel S. Bayliss

Bayliss, Daniel S. Dan Bayliss died of a heart attack at his home in Elk River on December 12, 2013 at the age of 60. He was born in Fargo, North Dakota on April 20, 1953, the youngest child of Sidney and Ruby Bayliss. He spent his childhood in Fargo and as an adult he decided to follow his family's heritage in steel and mechanical devices, earning a degree in machine tool technology from North Dakota College of Science in Wahpeton. After graduation he worked as a teacher in the mechanical engineering department at North Dakota State University. He moved to Minneapolis in 1981 upon securing employment as a journeyman toolmaker with MPI-Control Data, and he subsequently worked for Northwest Airlines. In 1993 Dan and his wife decided to leave the city for a more serene setting and relocated to rural Elk River, where he continued to pursue his lifelong passion of restoring circa-1900 tractors. Dan was well-known among antique tractor aficionados for his participation in every Labor Day weekend's Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion event. As the son of a former race car driver, Dan was also a lifelong sprint car racing enthusiast. For several years in the mid-00's he was a member of the Billy Balog Sprint Car Racing Team, working as a race strategist and pit crew member. Now that he is gone, every Minnesota Vikings and Gophers football game, as well as "Jeopardy" and "The Simpsons" episodes will have one less rapt viewer. He will be remembered by those who loved him for his dry sense of humor, love of animals, and kindness to all. Dan was predeceased by his parents, his sister Beverly and niece Charlene. He is survived by his wife Carmen; sister LaRon (Mike) Adkins of Battle Lake; brother Bernel (Janet) Bayliss of Minneapolis; brothers-in-law Brad Johnson of Pine City and Spencer (Amy Lynch) Johnson of Golden Valley; nieces Laurie, Julie, Ruby, Ivy and Violet and nephews Sean, Dan and Jasper. No services were held. A memorial gathering for family and friends will take place at a later date.