A Mass of Christian Burial for Steven “Sarge” Colbert Bassett, age 67, of Worthington, was held Sunday, May 13 at St. Mary Catholic Church, in Worthington, MN officiated by Fr. James Callahan, with full military honors provided by the Brewster American Legion. Burial of cremains will be at a later date at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Steve died Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. He was born September 22, 1950, in Springfield, MN, to Colbert “Corky” and Ardell (Dammann) Bassett. He graduated from Worthington High School in 1969; and later attended Worthington Community College. He then served his country in the United States Army, in Korea, during the Vietnam War.
Steve married Rita Klaassen on May 25, 1974, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Worthington, MN. The couple lived in Rushmore, MN for a short time before moving to Worthington. He worked with his parents at Bassett Meat Locker in Rushmore. Steve later worked as a Lab-Tech at Merck in Worthington.
He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Worthington; the Knights of Columbus; the Worthington Elks; the Worthington Optimists; and the American Legion & VFW. He was very active in sports, having been an assistant coach at Minnesota West for football and girls softball and umpiring for softball and baseball for over twenty years. He was an avid golfer and bowler. He was elected into the Minnesota West College Hall of Fame in 2018.
Steve is survived by his wife, Rita Bassett, Worthington, MN; two sons, Troy (Angela) Bassett, Rochester, MN; and Brent (Rachel) Bassett, St. Paul, MN; four grandchildren, Olivia, Easton, Greyson and Ada Bassett; a sister, Julie (Bruce) Wendling, Beresford, SD, and their children Josh, Lisa and Ryan; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews, aunts and uncles.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
