Donna Baker

Minot

Donna Baker, 95, Minot, ND, passed away Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Garrison Memorial Hospital Nursing Facility.

MaDonna Lou Gordon was born November 10, 1929, the daughter of Herald and Dorothy (Kinsella) Gordon in Minot, ND. She was raised and educated in Minot, attending Lincoln Elementary School and graduating from Minot High School in 1947. In 1948, she was crowned Wheat Queen of Western ND. After high school, Donna furthered her education by attending Minot State Teachers College, receiving her Teacher’s Certificate. She taught in Parshall and Washburn for a time.

Donna married Darl “Diz” Baker on June 18, 1953, at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Minot. They made their home in Minot where Donna was employed with Montgomery Wards and Buttrey’s “Ladies Ready-to-Wear”. In 1960, Donna switched careers to being a stay-at-home mom to care for their three children. The family built Gordon’s Holiday Spot where Donna worked part-time. After the children finished school, she then worked there full-time.

Darl sadly passed away on October 5, 1994. After Darl’s passing, Donna and her brother, Reid, sold the business in 1995. Donna went to work as a Foster Grandma at Lincoln Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Washington Elementary School. She was an active member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, she also volunteered at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church with the faith formation classes. When she wasn’t working or volunteering, she was embroidering quilts, and dish towels that you can find all over town.

Donna was also very busy trying to learn the different works of the Bible. Her faith has been her life, without it she probably wouldn’t have lived such a long life. The most important time in her life was when she was taking care of her children, helping them through life and the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her loving family includes: children, William “Bill” Baker, Bismarck, ND, Diane Salwey, Seattle, WA, and Candace Berg, Minot, ND; 6 grandchildren; Lisa Williams, Andrew Salwey, Aimee (Dominick) Boger, Gregory Olson, Catherine (Dustin) Mize, and Carly (Jared) Fleming; 13 great-grandchildren; Brent, Quinn, Ariyanna, Hailee, Adelynn, Ethan, Abigail, Aubrey, Noah, Kerrigan, Ashlyn, Jace and Colson, special niece; Nancy Gordon and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Darl; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert (Ann) and Reid (Phyllis) Gordon; nephew, Mike Gordon; niece, Kelly Gordon.

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 2:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation: Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Monday at 6 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to the Thompson-Larson Funeral home website: www.thompsonlarson.com

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, January 25, 2025.