John Wilson Baker

John Baker, 88 of Mayville, ND died Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at Sanford Medical Center, Mayville, ND. John W. Baker was born in Phoenix, Arizona on April 22, 1922, the son of Hugh and Ora (Presley) Baker. The family also lived in New Mexico and Texas, settling in Rogers, Arkansas, where John attended high school. John enlisted in the US Navy during WWII and served aboard ships in the South Pacific. John was married to June Hudson from Hunter, ND on June 7, 1944 in Seattle, Washington. Following John’s discharge from the Navy in 1945, he attended mortuary school in St. Louis, Missouri. John and June moved to Rogers, AR, where John worked for Callison Funeral Homes as a funeral director in both Rogers and Springdale. In 1950, they moved to Hunter, ND and John worked at Security State Bank. In 1952, they moved to Mayville where John worked for Egge Funeral Home. They eventually purchased the funeral home and renamed it Baker Funeral Home. In 1970 they purchased the funeral home in Buxton, ND and named the facility Knudsvig-Baker Funeral Home. They retired in 1984, selling the firms to their son, Steven. June died on June 14, 1996 and John became a resident at Luther Memorial Home in July 2004. John was a member of the Mayville Congregational United Church of Christ. He served as a Mayville City Councilman from Sept 7, 1965 to April 20, 1970. He is a member of the Mayville V.F.W. and American Legion and had been a member of the Masonic Lodge. Professionally, he had been a member of the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. John is survived by his 2 sons, Steven (Marion) Baker of Mayville, and Rod (Jan) Baker of Oklahoma City, OK; 4 grandsons, Kristopher Baker of Denver, CO, Ryan (Amanda) Baker of Oklahoma City, OK, Adam Baker of Dallas, TX, and Jay Baker of Oklahoma City, OK; 1 great-granddaughter, Alexis Baker; 2 great-grandsons, Jesse Baker and Craig Nichols; 3 sisters, Mary Ellen Gordon, Ruby Stone and Margaret Rushing, all of Rogers, AR; sister-in-law, Susie Baker; and brother-in-law, Norman Trolia. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, 2 brothers, Henry and Franklin, and 3 sisters, Phoebe Manley, Nell Baker and Harriet Trolia. Funeral Service: 2:00 P.M. Monday, October 11, 2010 at Mayville Lutheran Church, Mayville, ND, Pastor Peter Young and Steven Hastings, officiating. Visitation: 4-7 P.M. Sunday, October 10, 2010 at Baker Funeral Home, Mayville, ND and will resume one hour prior to the funeral service, at the church. Burial: Mayville City Cemetery, Mayville, ND with military honors provided by the May-Port American Legion.