Fredrick L. Baker II, 79
Fred L Baker, 79, went home to be with his heavenly father on Father's Day June 18, 2023, with his loving family by his side. Also beside him were his faithful dogs River and Zoey. He was 79 years young. Fred was born on January 30, 1944 in Merced, California, to Fred and Terry Baker. He was baptized April 25, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran church in Kalispell.
Growing up he was active in swimming competitions in school and was an Eagle Scout. He enjoyed rock climbing, dirt racing, fishing and skiing. He later volunteered for the Dream ski program on Big Mountain.
He married Gale Bonfanti in 1970 and then had a son, Joshua. They later divorced and he moved to Montana in 1979 to work for Northwest Telephone, now Centurytel as a senior engineer. He retired from there in 2000.
He then spent the next few years contracting in Montana and Arizona traveling back and forth. His last job working for Bonneville power was his dream job. He loved the people he worked with in Kalispell Idaho and Washington. He considered them family. Traveling to various job sites including remote mountain peaks on his motorcycle he was in his element.
He met his wife Cindy in Kalispell, and they were married in 1981. They had two daughters, Mariah, and Sierra.
Summers were spent with family windsurfing on Flathead Lake and the Gorge along with camping, fishing and mountain biking. The family traveled 14 years in a row to mountain bike in Moab Utah. The “pig farm” was also a favorite. Winter was skiing or snow biking and playing with the family dogs in the snow.
Motorcycles were his passion. To be happy was to be riding or working on a bike. He loved sharing his vast knowledge of bikes with anyone who was remotely interested or needed help. One of his favorite places to go was Penco to “talk shop” with his friends there or buy a bike. He taught his wife Cindy how to ride a motorcycle and that opened the door to many fun biking trips from the Redwoods to the Black Hills in South Dakota, and many other biking adventures, just not enough in the end.
He never met a stranger. He could engage in conversation with anyone he met and had friends from Canada to Australia and places in between.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Terry Baker; his father-in-law, Lavern Clare; sister-in-law, DeAnne Tripp; and niece Kaylee (Lynn)Tripp.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years Cindy; daughters, Mariah and (Chris) Hanson; grandson, Dakota Hanson; daughter, Sierra Baker; son, Joshua (Linda) Shawhan; sister, Jill Getzan; niece, Dawn Garrett; nephew, Grant Getzan; mother-in-law, Emeral Clare; brother-in-laws, Leo (Christi) and Guy Clare; sister-in-law, Heidi (Mike) Kime; many nieces and nephews, also with many many close friends.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on August 25, at Trinity Lutheran church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell.
We will miss your special light in our world but look forward to the day we will be together again.
Friends are encouraged to visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.