Betty Lou (Hooper) Baker, 70

Betty Lou (Hooper) Baker passed away peacefully at the Immanuel Lutheran Home on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, in Kalispell, at the age of 70.

Betty was born Jan. 18, 1939, in North Dakota, and later moved to the Flathead Valley shortly after World War II with her mother and stepfather. She spent most of her life on a farm, and she treasured the simple, uncomplicated lifestyle the country offered her. She found great pleasure and satisfaction in growing her own food, harvesting it from her garden and cooking and baking for her family. The Baker household was a popular after-school stop on the days when the aroma of the freshly baked cinnamon rolls worked its way through the neighborhood.

She had a great appreciation for the outdoors and was an avid fisherwoman who fished many of Montana's waters. Another favorite outdoor activity was picking huckleberries high in the Montana mountains.

Betty loved animals, and that was demonstrated by the variety of animals she owned for at least a short period of time. The pets included cats, dogs, horses, cows, chickens, pigs, birds, rabbits and sheep, and she even allowed Japanese hooded rats for a short period of time as pets for her children. She was especially fond of her household cats and dogs and loved horses.

Betty was a country music fan whose favorite artists included Merle Haggard and George Strait. She was especially close to her family and appreciated family gatherings, where it was common for challenging card or board games to last into the wee morning hours. Even though life handed Betty many challenges, her beautiful smile shined through it all and to the end.

Betty is survived by her mother, Hazel Stensland; three daughters, Cindy Slade and husband, Tony, of Laughlin, Nev., Peggy Terry and husband, Robert, of Kalispell, and Jerri Dillon and husband, Shawn, of Tacoma, Wash.; her brothers, Daniel Stensland and wife, Margie, and Sherman Hooper, both of Kalispell; two uncles, Oscar Anderson of Ross, N.D., and Arvid Anderson of Stanley, N.D.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Betty will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, April 13, in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral chapel. Burial will be afterward in the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Betty's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Betty's guest book.