Baron Craig Stroop

In Loving Memory of Baron Craig Stroop
March 6, 1973 – August 16, 2025
Baron Craig Stroop, 52, of Colstrip, Montana, passed away tragically doing what he loved most, riding fast and free, on August 16, 2025. A beloved father, son, brother, partner, uncle and friend- Baron lived a life full of laughter, motion, and deep devotion to those he loved.
Born on March 6, 1973, in Great Falls, Montana, to Dave and Judi Stroop, Baron was their firstborn son and quickly took to being his dad's sidekick and the wide skies and open land of Big Sky Country. A true Montana boy, he spent his early years in Belt surrounded by a tight-knit tribe of cousins, mischief, and memory-making. He shared an unbreakable bond with his younger brother Chad, opposites in many ways, but united in humor, sharp wit, and brotherly love expressed through a steady stream of inside jokes, memes, and laughter.
Raised by a hardworking mechanic and a caring school cook, Baron carried the values of diligence, loyalty, and grit throughout his life. He was a man who showed up for family, for friends, for community.
In 2002, Baron married Azure Park (now divorced), and together they had four beautiful daughters: Paige, Zoey, Aubrey, and Tessa. Fatherhood was Baron's proudest role. His girls were his world, the heartbeat behind every decision he made. He was present in every sense of the word: cheering from the stands, driving hours just to watch a game or a recital, offering his strength during the highs and lows of growing up. He also poured his love into his bonus children, Kait and Keagan, as well as his nephews Keagan and Kale, never missing a chance to show up to support their endeavors.
For the last decade, Baron shared his life with Shayla Luhman, his partner in love and in life. Together, they embraced a full and adventurous life, crisscrossing the highways on his motorcycle, rocking out at concerts, and navigating the beautiful chaos of blending families. Their partnership was filled with laughter and shared dreams.
Baron's life was one marked by hard work, humor, and quiet strength. He spent many years as a Drag Line Operator at Westmoreland Rosebud Mine, where his dedication and grit left a lasting impression on those he worked alongside. Outside of work, he was rarely without a Mountain Dew or a Kickstart energy drink in hand, simple comforts that became part of his daily routine. Like many lives, his was not without complexities, yet through it all he carried a heart full of love and an unwavering will to show up for the people who mattered most. His legacy lives on not only in the paths he carved but, in the daughters he raised, the laughter he shared, and the countless lives he touched along the way.
Baron had a lifelong love affair with engines and open roads. Whether it was a classic car or a motorcycle, if it had wheels and could fly down a road, it had his heart. He found freedom and peace in the hum of horsepower, and it's fitting, if not heartbreakingly so, that he left this world doing what set his soul on fire.
Those who know Baron will remember him as a rock, steady, loyal, and always ready to help. He had a unique ability to make people feel seen, heard, and cared for. He was a devoted son, a protective brother, a present and loving father, and a friend who could always be counted on.
Baron was proceeded in Death by his Grandparents, Ed and Kay Elam and Robert and Bertha Stroop, and his beautiful oldest daughter, Paige Stroop.
He is survived by his daughters Zoey, Aubrey, and Tessa; bonus children Kait and Keagan; parents Dave and Judi Stroop; brother Chad Stroop (Kristy Pontet-Stroop); his longtime partner Shayla Luhman, and nieces and nephews. He is also survived by countless extended family members, friends, and all those fortunate enough to ride beside him, laugh with him, and call him theirs.
A celebration of Baron's life will be held on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Colstrip, and there is a private burial and then community service in Belt on August 30, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Belt Pavilion. In honor of his love for the open road, the family invites friends to ride in tribute-two wheels or four, all are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paige Stroop memorial with the Colstrip school or simply perform an act of kindness in Baron's name. Share a joke, support a neighbor, show up for someone.
Because that's what Baron would do.