Benjamin Baker

Benjamin F. Baker, 94, peacefully passed away Thursday, May 7, 2015, with his family by his side at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby. He was born in Libby on April 7, 1921, the seventh of eight sons and one daughter born to his parents, Louis Henry and Emma Sophia (Barchenger) Baker. He was baptized on Sunday, April 17, 1921, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Libby. He was received as a Communicant Member of the church, through the Rite of Confirmation, on Sunday, June 7, 1936. He was a lifetime member of St. John Lutheran Church.

Benjamin entered the first grade of Libby Public Schools in 1927 and graduated from Libby High School on May 26, 1939.   He was inducted in active military service on July 15, 1942, in Butte. After spending a few days at Fort Douglas, Utah, he was assigned to the 89th Infantry stationed at Camp Carson at Colorado Springs, Colo. He was later assigned to the 71st Infantry Division. In 1944, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces. Ben’s military training continued with an assignment to the Parachute School at Fort Benning, Ga. He had the misfortune of breaking a leg and after spending three months in the base hospital, he was eliminated from further paratrooper training. He was then sent to Camp Stoneman, Calif., for deployment to the Pacific Theater of Operations. He arrived in Manila, Philippines, in April 1945. He departed the Philippines in January 1946 at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Following his return to Libby, Ben was employed at Sleizer’s Grocery.  In June 1951, he went to work in the payroll department of J. Neils Lumber Company. He later worked in the purchasing department and was named purchasing agent in 1972. He was the head storekeeper when he retired on May 1, 1983.

May 12, 1957, Benjamin and Mildred M. Field were married at St. John Lutheran Church in Libby. The bride was an attractive young widow, who also worked at J. Neils Lumber Company. She was the mother of Thomas, age eight, and Lynn, age three. Ben and Mildred were involved in the foster parent program and ran Baker’s Day Care Center for 26 years in Libby.

In the early 1960s, Ben served as the chairman of the Lincoln County unit of the American Cancer Society. He gave many years of service to his Lord as a member of St. John Lutheran Church of Libby. He served as a Sunday school teacher for 22 years and also sang in the church senior choir. He was honored to serve two terms as president of the congregation, was a member of the Board of Parish Education and served as its chairman for a while during the early years of St. John Lutheran School and had also served on the Board of Elders. To God be the Glory.

He enjoyed doing crosswords, eating anything and his family and his Lord.

Ben was preceded in death by his wife Mildred, a son Thomas H. Field, his parents, seven brothers, one sister and many lifetime friends.

Survivors include his daughters Melissa Rider (Grant) and Lynn Osterhues (Roger); grandchildren, Aaron Chambers, Rachel Osterhues, Kelsi Chambers (Jake), Robert Field (Kristine), Tammi Saavedra (Jeff) and Lesley Hatten; nine great-granddaughters including Hailey and Natiley of Libby; two great-great granddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services with Reverend Steven Thomas officiating will be at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at St. John Lutheran Church in Libby. Memorials may be made to the local unit of The American Cancer Society, or to any charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.