Dennis Lee Barker

Dennis Lee Barker of Shelby, Montana passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Dennis was born in Pratt, Kansas to Clarence and Winifred Barker, the youngest of three children. Clarence passed away in 1964 and Winifred remarried Frank Staples after Dennis left for college.

Dennis graduated from Pratt High School in 1973 and from North Dakota State University in 1977 where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho. He made his way to Montana in 1979 to work at Duncan Ranch in Joplin, Montana. After moving to the Hi-Line he met and married his former wife, Lynda Laas, of Chester, Montana. They had four children together: Chance, Marsha, Bryan, and Jenna. 

 Dennis had a passion for agriculture. He served on the Marias Fairboard for multiple years, was involved in Montana Hereford Association, Montana Junior Hereford Association, helped start Northern Genetic Bull Sales, and in the early 90s Dennis and Lynda won the Young Hereford Breeder TYRO Award from MHA. He worked many jobs including Duncan ranch, Rudolph Bros., Laas Farms, Superior Feeds, Cargill, CHS, City of Shelby and Northern Transit Interlocal.

 Dennis also had a passion for sports. He worked as a referee for many years and for as long as he physically could. He refereed football, wrestling, softball, and baseball mainly in North Central Montana but he also traveled the state to ref or work a booth at a tournament. Dennis volunteered and helped with multiple youth organizations both in athletics and agriculture.

 Dennis had an incredible relationship with two of his grandchildren, Grayson & Quinnlyn Barker of Shelby, MT. There was nothing more important to him. As Dennis battled cancer and his other health issues, Grayson was his caregiver and driver. You rarely saw Dennis without one of them. 

 Dennis is preceded in death by his parents: Clarence Barker (1964), Winifred Staples (2008), and Frank Staples (2005) and his brother William Barker (2020) and his sister-in-law Sharon Barker (2020). He is survived by his sister Kathelia Baldwin of Goddard, Kansas, his four children Chance (Lindsey) of Shelby, MT, Marsha (Brian) of Big Sky, MT, Bryan (Mikayla) of Shelby, MT, and Jenna (Bill) of Chester, MT, as well as his grandchildren: Grayson, Quinnlyn, Charlotte, Layden, Elianna, & Emma.

 A celebration of life will be held on January 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Shelby, Montana.