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The staff at the Minot Daily News is grieving. This past Sunday, our sports writer, colleague, and friend, Michael Kraft, passed away at the age of 36.
Michael began his professional journalism career right here in our newsroom. Though his path took him to other newspapers across the country, his deep affection for this community and its athletes ultimately brought him back to us. He was a valued colleague, a cherished friend, and a consummate journalist who believed deeply in the integrity of the written word.
When Michael first left North Dakota, it wasn’t because he had stopped loving this community; he missed his family. After years of facing difficult health challenges with quiet, steady resilience, Michael made the decision to return to the place where his career began. He came back to the community and the local sports scene he genuinely loved, and we were incredibly fortunate to welcome him back to his second home.
He was a traditional journalist to his core. In an era when much of the media chases clicks and speed, Michael cared about accuracy, thorough reporting, and the human beings behind the stats. He wrote out of a genuine love for the athletes and teams he covered. Michael appreciated the beauty of details. He took immense pride in the grind of research and the art of the interview. He made certain every local athlete received an accurate, respectful, and honest account of their accomplishments.
The legendary Joseph Pulitzer wrote of the journalist’s true calling: "Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light."
Michael embodied that creed. He understood a truth that every great local journalist knows: today's newspaper becomes tomorrow's history. His articles are now a permanent, indelible part of this community's story. Years from now, anyone looking back at the history of Minot sports will turn to his work to learn what happened, who competed, and why those moments mattered. That is a legacy of purpose, and one that few leave behind.
When someone passes away at just 36 years old, there are no words that can truly make sense of the loss. There is only the recognition of the void left behind, and a deep gratitude for the time we were fortunate enough to share with him. We will choose to remember Michael for his wit, his quiet professionalism, his passion for the game, and the joy he brought to our newsroom. We will remember a writer who believed that every story deserved care. Every fact deserved verification. Every athlete deserved to have their effort recorded fairly.
Michael made this newspaper better. He made this community better.
Our deepest, heartfelt condolences go out to his parents, Patrick and Susan, his brother Daniel, and his extended family and friends in Rochester, New York, and beyond.
Thank you, Michael, for the stories you told, the history you preserved, and the friend you were. We will miss you terribly.