Ruth Vivian Baker

Our beloved mother and friend, Ruth Vivian Baker, peacefully passed in the loving presence of her children on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, in Mesa, Ariz., at the age of 89.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, June 24, at Bell Mortuary with Rick Thompson officiating. Burial will follow services at the Highland Cemetery in Glasgow, Mont.

She was born June 9, 1928, and grew up in "Dane Valley"- McCabe, Mont., and graduated from Culbertson High School. She moved to Glasgow and met the love of her life, Myron F. Baker, known to many as "Barney." They were married Oct. 5, 1946, and resided in Glasgow until their retirement in 1985. The sunshine, orange groves and bridge foursomes called to them and they moved to Mesa to enjoy the desert lifestyle. They maintained a summer residence in Kalispell for visits with friends and to spend time with the grandkids.

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow and Victory Lutheran Church in Mesa, where she enjoyed serving as a greeter and assisted with communion. Her caring and compassion for those in need led her to caregiving for neighbors and family.

Her favorite pastimes included summers at the cabin on Fort Peck Lake, playing bridge, watching Atlanta Braves baseball, casino trips, shopping, travel, seeing Wayne Newton in concert (five times) and baking treats for the grandkids. G'ma Ruth's lemon bars were a big hit!!  A special celebration for Barney and Ruth's 50th Wedding Anniversary was a dinner cruise on Flathead Lake hosted by their children. This event was one she long remembered. A great joy in her life was getting together with family and friends.

Her career included being a housewife, working at Mountain Bell Telephone and owning and operating the Jewell Ann Dress Shop in Glasgow. She retired after 20 years in the administration office of Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital.

She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, who had a sweet spirit, beautiful smile and loved the Lord. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends and anyone blessed to have known her.

Her husband of 59 years, "Barney," preceded her in death in 2005.

She is survived by two children, Linda K. Williams and her husband, Ken, of Coeur d 'Alene, Idaho, and Mike M. Baker and his wife, Kori, of Kalispell; six grandchildren, Wade Williams and his wife, Kristy, Cami Seller and her husband, Todd, Flint Baker, Ian Baker, Caleb Tkachyk and Nahum Tkachyk and his wife, Ashley; nine great-grandchildren, Brianna Krell, Wyatt Van Ham, Maija Ames, Auston Seller, Dalton Seller, Ariel Williams, Kendall Tkachyk, Blake Tkachyk, and Grayson Baker.

Bell Mortuary is assisting with arrangements and condolences may be made at bellmortuarymontana.com.