Raymond Baker

Vertin-Munson Funeral Home

1-701-642-4000

Raymond A. Baker, 89, Wahpeton, ND, passed away quietly on Saturday, July 11, 2009, at his home. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 15 at St. John’s Catholic Church with Rev. Dale Lagodinski as celebrant. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. Prayer Service at St. John’s Catholic Church, Wahpeton; also, visitation Wednesday one hour prior to time of service at the church. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Hankinson, ND. Military Honors will be conducted by the “Members of the ND Military Honors”, Hafner-Miller-Ross American Legion Post No. 20, Woody Keeble VFW Post No. 4324, Wahpeton.

Raymond August Baker was born November 8, 1919, on a farm in Elma Township , near Hankinson to Orie and Lena (Muehler) Baker. He attended a country school in rural Hankinson and he grew up on a small farm near Hankinson. He was drafted into the U. S. Army Air Force on July 16, 1942, at the age of 22. He was deployed to serve in the South Pacific during World War II. He received a honorable discharge on September 2, 1945, at the rank of sergeant.

After the war he married Geneva (Meyer) Baker at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Fairmount , ND on September 24, 1946. They traveled around the country for a few years and settled in Montana for a short time until finally moving to the Wahpeton/Breckenridge area. He worked at Sturdevant’s Auto Parts and Ro-Banks Tool and Manufacturing for many years until retiring in 1981.

Raymond’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, and playing cards. He was an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins baseball team. He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Wahpeton, and the Woody Keeble VFW Post No. 4324, Wahpeton.

Raymond is survived by his wife of 63 years, Geneva; his six children, Gene (Gayle) Baker, Hazen, ND, Diane (Bill) Mertes, Wahpeton, Joan (Dean) Rydell, Fairmount, ND, Glen (Tarasia) Baker, Breckenridge, MN, Dale Baker, Wahpeton, Judy Baker, Wahpeton; 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, Cory Baker, Hazen, Kathy (Casey) Mutzenberger, Bismarck, ND, Jill (Aaron) Nudell, (GGS- Owen),Casselton, ND, Greg (Emma) Mertes, Wahpeton ( GGC – Madeline & Macen), Wahpeton, Crystal Marten, (GGC – Elijah and Sydney Lewellen), Hebron, ND, Ashley and Jessica Rydell, Fairmount, Scott Jordheim, Wahpeton; and 1 sister, Grace (Elroy) Borchardt, Hankinson. .

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Joyce; 4 brothers, Harvey, Herbert, Daniel, and Henry; his sister, Pearl Rettig; 4 brothers-in-law and 3 sisters-in-law.

He will be deeply missed by his family.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton. Visit/sign our Online Guestbook at www.vertinmunson.com