Simon Lind Baker

Simon Lind Baker, 93, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2014, due to the incidence of age. Born December 13, 1920 to Simon Moroni and Mollie Lind Baker in Heyburn, Idaho, his life spanned a period of great change as the oldest of a family of ten children. His parents had a burning desire for all of their children to be educated, and Simon was a bright scholar. Raised on an isolated ranch in Lind, Utah, Simon was sent to larger towns to attend school when a local school was unavailable, returning for summers at the family home. His lifelong love of ranching and horses came from his childhood.

Simon served his country in WWII in France in the infantry and as a military police officer in Paris after D-Day. After the war, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Eastern States Mission. He married the love of his life, Marjorie Cecilia Lewis on December 1, 1948 in the LDS Logan Utah Temple. He graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry from what is now Utah State University in 1950.

Simon's work life was ranching and farming in Idaho and Montana. He and Marjorie had a life filled with raising cattle, crops, and their seven children. Their home was a haven for several foster children who needed them. Simon served faithfully in several bishoprics, in stake callings, as a seminary teacher, and as a temple worker. He had a great love of the scriptures and often quoted them as a basis of his testimony of Jesus Christ. At the end of his years, he found great satisfaction in being the "Cookie Grandpa", serving the nursery-aged children by loving them and helping with snack time. He laughed that it introduced him to "the happiness of crackers shaped like fish". Simon's dry sense of humor was a delight to those who knew him well. He deeply treasured the association and love he had with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the children in the neighborhood, who brought him valentines, treats, cards, and letters.

We are assured of Simon's joyful reunion with his wife, who passed away in 1984. He is survived by his children: Craig (Ann) Baker, Murphy ID; Christopher (Mary) Baker, Whitehall MT; David (Tamra) Baker, Riverton UT; Christine (Roger) Christensen, Quito, Ecuador; Margaret (Bill) Poulton, Burley ID; Kevin (Yvonne) Baker, South Jordan UT; 29 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. His wife, Marjorie; daughter, Terry Baker; grandson, Gavin Baker; and several of his siblings precede him in death. The family expresses their appreciation to St Joseph Villa and IHC Hospice for his final care.

Services will be held, Saturday, July 12, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Foothills Herriman Ward, 5246 West Gossamer Way (13700 South), Riverton, Utah, with a viewing at the church prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park South Valley, Riverton, UT.

Funeral Home:
Jenkins-Soffe South Valley
1007 W. South Jordan Parkway
South Jordan, UT