Glen Edward Baker

Glen Edward Baker went home to join his Lord and Savior on Saturday, May 14 ^th after his third and final battle with cancer.   Glen was born on June 16, 1947 in Conrad, Montana to parents Abe and Lois Baker.

On December 21 ^st , 1966, Glen married his high school sweetheart, Lillian VanDyke, and shortly after, was drafted into the US Army in June 1967. In November of that same year, he was sent to Vietnam and assigned to the 1 ^st Infantry Division, 11 ^th Combat Aviation Battalion. He survived the infamous Tet Offensive of 1968, and was honorably discharged in June 1969.

Upon returning home, Glen and Lil started their family and shared four children together; Brenda (Ken) Slezak, Kelly (Joseph) McMillen, Chad Baker, and Nichole (Kelly) Widhalm.

Upon his return, Glen worked as a meat cutter for Buttrey’s and delivered milk for Vita Rich Dairy, before farming his family’s homestead in Choteau for nearly 35 years. Before health conditions forced him to fully retire from farming, Glen was able to become a one on one assistant to a special needs child in the Conrad School System.  Glen served in this position until his latest hospitalization and was blessed and honored not only by this student but by the staff of every school he entered and every student he encountered.  This was evidenced by the daily letters, photos and cards sent to his hospital room and lovingly hung on the wall each day by his family.

Glen served on the Conrad School Board, Northern Gateway Board of Directors and on the Pondera Golf Course Board, as well as numerous church boards.  He was a huge MSU Bobcats supporter and attended every football game that his health allowed with his wife and son.  He and his wife were members of the Conrad Mission Church for many years.  Glen had many hobbies and interests and a few of the things he loved the most were having friends over to enjoy his wonderful cooking and travelling with his family.  One highlight was flying his family to Hawaii in 2000 for the NFL Pro Bowl football game. He was able to fulfill two lifelong desires by a visit the NFL Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH recently when health reasons caused him to travel there for treatment, and by watching the Boston Red Sox win the World Series in 2004. Annual camping trips to Glacier Park were enjoyed by Glen and his family for many years.  His greatest joy, however, came from his six grandchildren, (Lyndsey Green, Sydney Slezak- Norby, Tyler Nelson, Parker Slezak, Gavinn Green, and Payton Nelson), and two great-grandchildren, (Kinsley and Shance Nelson).  Everyone who knew Glen knew the special bond and love he had for his one and only son, Chad.  His last message to Chad came in a written note where he reminded Chad that he would always be “His #1 Son”.

Glen is survived by his beloved wife Lillian and their four children, six grandchildren, two great grandchildren, his brothers Jack Baker of Nampa, Idaho and Gerald Baker of Bozeman, Montana, nieces, nephews, and numerous in-laws.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father in law, and a few very dear brothers in law and sisters in law.

Funeral services are planned for Sunday, May 22 ^nd at 2:00 pm at the Conrad Mission Church. A Prayer Service will be Saturday, May 21, at 5:00 pm at Pondera Funeral Home.

His wife and family wish to convey their deepest and heartfelt thanks to the City of Conrad and surrounding community for the outpouring of love and support extended to us.  Dr. Grant Harrer at Sletten Cancer Institute provided compassion and expert care for which we can never say thank you enough.  You will never fully know the extent of your blessing.  In lieu of flowers, Glen’s family requests that memorials be sent to Benefis Peace Hospice at 1101 26 ^th St South in Great Falls, MT 59405 so that other families can be blessed by the end of life care and compassion shown to Glen.