Vern Baker

VERN ALLAN BAKER was born to Edward and Verla Marlene (Aukes) Baker in Rock Rapids, Iowa on November 27, 1956. He was raised on the family farm east of Steen, Minnesota, graduating from Hills Beaver Creek High School in 1974. He excelled in track and cross country; lettering six times and earning status of team captain. In June of 1974, Vern enlisted into the United States Air Force. He was an area chief and worked as a specialist mechanic in airframe structural repair. Vern was honorably discharged on February 2, 1978 and returned to the family farm which he eventually purchased. He was united in marriage to Susan Boeve from 1978 to 2002. They had four children together. In 1984, Vern changed careers and moved the family to Hills, Minnesota. Vern worked at Kolman-Athey Manufacturing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for six years. He went on to work for Exhaust Pros in Sioux Falls for over 16 years as an exhaust specialist and manager before a number of health concerns forced him into an early retirement. On Thursday, April 6, 2017, Vern passed away at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center at the age of 60 years, four months and nine days.

Vern loved camping and visiting any place with a river setting. He enjoyed fishing and target shooting. He collected die-cast metal cars and tractors. He was very fond of watching television, especially old black and white western movies.

He will be remembered by his four children, Alyson (Baker) and her husband Dana Olson of Hills, Karen (Baker) and her husband Alex Griffith of Brandon, South Dakota, Wayne Baker of Hills, and Robert Baker and his wife Kerri (Fransman) of Beaver Creek, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, Alexia Boltjes, Adrienne Boltjes, MacKenzie Griffith, Isaac Griffith, Abigayl Olson, Caden Baker, Auston Olson, Maddox Baker, and Kaelyn Baker; four siblings, Warren (Loretta) Baker of Luverne, Minnesota, Gerhart (Marsha) Baker of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Debra (Darrell) Peterson of Pennock, Minnesota, and Bernita (Richard) Hup of Litchfield, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Verla and his father, Edward.