Johnnie Judson Baker, age 95, died at the Goshen Healthcare Community in Torrington, WY on Feb. 19, 2019. He was born Sept. 12, 1923 in Mitchell, Nebraska to Earl E. and Anna Mae Marcum Baker. Johnnie graduated in 1941 from Lingle High School.
After graduation, Johnnie attended the University of Wyoming and served in World War II as an Army Air Corp B26 pilot with the rank of Captain. In 1945 he married Betty Louise Nida and they celebrated their 68th anniversary shortly before her death in 2013. After his military career ended, he co-owned and operated the Nida Texaco in Lingle before moving to Wheatland in 1952 where he managed the parts department at the Chevrolet dealership. They returned to Lingle in 1968 where Johnnie worked as parts manager at Rose Bros Massey Ferguson until his retirement in 1985. He was especially proud to be a volunteer fireman in Lingle and Wheatland. He also had the privilege of fighting federal fires until the age of 72. They moved to Scottsbluff in 2003 and returned to Torrington in 2013. Johnnie accepted Christ as his personal Savior in 1962 and was a member of North Hills Baptist Church in Lingle at the time of his death.
Johnnie was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, his parents, 3 brothers, Stanley, Wilbur and Ross, and a sister, Wilma Abbott. Johnnie is survived by 1 sister, Anna Mae Edwards of Kennewick, Washington; 3 daughters, Marsha and John Kuykendall of Forsyth, MT, Cathy and Gale McNeff of Torrington, and Peggy and Greg DesEnfants of Prairie Center; a son, Bob and Nancy Clark of Eagle River, Alaska; 15 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, and 14 great great grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at North Hills Baptist Church in Lingle on Saturday, February 23 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Buildings & Grounds Committee, North Hills Baptist Church, PO Box 520, Lingle, WY 82223 for landscape or building needs.
