By Nick Gerhardt
Daniel “Booner” Lewellyn had a way of making an impression.
He introduced himself to the Sartell Muskies back in 2010 and boldly proclaimed the team would win a championship within three years. The Muskies went on to claim the 2013 state title and the team learned his outlandish claims often turned out true.
“He approached (manager) Randy (Beckstrom) and marched his way across the field during a practice and said, ‘I hear you guys need some help,’” longtime Muskies ace pitcher David Deminsky said. “Booner says, ‘I have a track record of bringing championships to teams’ and sure enough in three years we won.”
Booner previously helped the Sauk Rapids Cyclones, who won a state title in 1995. He became an assistant manager and more with the Muskies. Booner died Dec. 9 after a short illness with pancreatitis. His death shocked the team and brought a flood of memories, including everyone’s favorite “Boonerisms.”
“He’d make you kind of think about it a little seriously and then you’d get it,” Muskies veteran Tim Burns said. “It’s some of those things that maybe the older generation has heard more than the younger generation.”
Booner became known for a phrase or two that could be described as a mix of witticisms and dad jokes. They were a distinct, dry style in a way only Booner could deliver. In a trademark Hawaiian shirt he liked to ask check out clerks how much they owed him. Or, he often said, “In the name of the Father and Son, I’ll have another one.”
The phrases finally got documented and available for the rest of the world to enjoy when Booner created a Twitter account one evening in the basement of Randy Beckstrom and his wife Shanna’s home.
Booner became part of the Muskies family and in particular, the Beckstroms. He became their best friend and spent much of his time with them watching football on Sundays in the basement of their home or fishing from the lake behind their home. Not only did Randy turn to Booner in the dugout for his advice, but often for anything that came up.
“He was my ear,” Randy said. “Whether it was in the dugout or in life in general. I could bounce ideas off him and he’d give me advice on the baseball field and in life. He was a great help. He would do absolutely anything I’d ask. He’d always ask what do you need me to do.”
Booner, a life-long bachelor, hardly missed a game for family and friends like the Beckstroms. He attended Randy and Shanna’s daughter Lilly’s softball and volleyball games at every chance and became part of the fabric of those teams. He became part of the extended family by playing cribbage often with Shanna’s mother and Randy’s mother.
Booner had stories — almost too far-fetched to believe, but years down the road they turned out to have at least a kernel of truth. He once touted a campground in Mora as an oasis of good times. The team, which played its region tournament in nearby Hinckley, finally decided to venture there with Booner one year only to discover his description accurate.
“We always heard from him, ‘I used to go out to this campground in Mora and they have a little bar and it’d be the best time of your life,’” Burns said.
When they arrived at the campground everyone knew and recognized Booner like a celebrity. It wasn’t too long before someone passed him a bottle and the team knew he wasn’t kidding.
“That was probably one of the most memorable ones,” Randy said. “… That was one wild time.”
The camping trips during tournaments also saw younger players trying to hang with Booner.
“He would mess with our rookies and say, ‘I bet you can’t stay up later than me,’” Deminsky said. “They would try to stay up, 3 or 4 a.m. and he’s just staying around the fire. The sun would be coming up and they’d be face down on the ground.”
Though he stayed up the longest, he made sure to clean up before he went to bed. If he stayed with the Beckstroms overnight, he’d surprise them by completely cleaning up their place following an evening of entertaining guests.
When he wasn’t fishing or playing cribbage you could find him at a sporting event. Booner had many nieces and nephews so there were no shortage of games to go watch. He often went out of his way to help his family whether helping his brother with repairs to rental properties or assisting with his nephew’s softball team.
Shanna shared a special bond with Booner that extended beyond baseball though it revolved around it. They made attending the opening night of the state tournament an annual event and even went to the grocery store together.
“In some ways he was really paternal with me,” Shanna said. “He just became a support system that I had never experienced. Someone checking with you consistently.”
Booner started each day texting Shanna and provided support when needed. She and Randy in turn helped Booner when he needed it. Following rotator cuff surgery, Booner stayed with the Beckstroms for a week while he recovered.
“I think one thing that sticks with me is that I take care of him,” Shanna said. “I would make him meals, give him snacks. I would see what he would give to others and my love language is feeding people. He would always say this is the best meal I’ve ever had and I’d say, ‘You said that last time.’”
Booner visited the Beckstroms nearly every day. Booner didn’t like to sit still and they’d find him raking their beach or working on another project if he wasn’t out fishing on the lake off their backyard.
“He was doing things for other people 100 percent of the time,” Shanna said. “That guy ain’t sitting still. I don’t think he had a battery.”
Booner worked 30 years as a custodian for the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district and later as delivery driver for the CentraCare Paynesville hospital. He made a point to wave or say hello to students while he worked for the school district and later received an award for his work with the hospital.
He put others first and lended a hand when needed or when he perceived someone needed help. He’d help his family by watching the children of his nieces and nephews. He liked to talk to Shanna about helping with a niece’s young son and teaching him how to throw a ball and the time they spent at the park. He also made sure to shower people with gifts in his own way. He liked to bring Lilly stuffed animals with Minnesota sports teams logos, so much so that she nearly ran out of room for them, Shanna said.
Booner, whose Hawaiian shirt collection naturally included one with a Muskies pattern and title across the chest, made sure to send text messages to each Muskies player on holidays and always sent the last text in a conversation.
“If there was one person who always texted me on a holiday, it was him,” Burns said. “He’d always say the last word on a text. If I ever needed anything, I would text him and he would be there.”
Booner had a long association with townball and baseball. Before joining the Muskies, he spent time helping with the Sauk Rapids Cyclones. In the dugout he carried with him a tub of bubble gum and offered a generous book for Muskies hitters on questionable scoring plays, more often scoring them hits in the books as opposed to errors.
Booner epitomized the spirit of someone who would give you the shirt off their back and he literally did. In 2021, Deminsky learned he won the Mike Davison Award for Most Outstanding Pitcher of the state tournament. The Muskies lost the day before the championship game in the quarterfinals against Sobieski and Deminsky didn’t feel up to driving down to receive the award. It was Booner who convinced him he needed to go and told him he’d regret it if he didn’t attend the awards ceremony after the title game. Booner drove him down to Waconia and gave Deminsky one of his own Muskies shirts to wear to receive the award.
The day before he arrived at the hospital he spent it watching football with the Beckstroms at their home. In Booner fashion he arrived with a pan of lasagna that he said he cooked. In reality his mom and sister spent much of the previous night making. Just another Boonerism those who knew him best came to expect.
There is a celebration of life planned for Booner Dec. 29 from 2-6 p.m. at the Sauk Rapids VFW. The team plans to honor him throughout the season and early plans include a Hawaiian jersey night.
