Ronald Bruce Baker

Ronald Bruce Baker, 64, of Missoula, MT set his spirit free from his worldly vessel on Sunday, April 6th 2014. He was surrounded by his devoted family at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula. He left this life after giving each of his loved ones a chance to say a final goodbye.
Ron was a native Montanan, born at the Big Horn Community Hospital in Hardin on July 29, 1949 to Elizabeth "Betty" Jean Veitch & Robert Arthur Baker of Lodge Grass, MT. Ron, his parents & three brothers Tom, Steve & Dave lived in many places in Montana during his childhood; including Hardin, Forsythe & Lockwood. The Cashan Ranch, near Yellowtail, held some of his fondest childhood memories. It was where he spent time with his parents, elder brother Tom, aunt Maryellen & horse Little Beaver.
In the 1960's, the Baker family finally settled down in Lockwood, MT. Ron attended Billings Senior High & graduated in 1967. After graduating from high school he was a baker at Eddie's Bakery, joined the Labor's Union to work at the refinery & worked for Ramsey Construction. It was at the beginning of the bicentennial year of 1976 when he first met Shirley Ann Ryder of Laurel, MT. Ron & Shirley spent that summer & autumn in Bozeman, MT, while attending Montana State University. They got married in a candlelight vigil on December 18, 1976 at the First Congregational Church in Laurel, MT. They relocated back to Billings after marrying. In 1977, they had a son, Christopher Alex, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings. Chris was determined to arrive early, with Shirley's water breaking, just after Ron had competed for his brown belt in Tae Kwon Do. Ron & Shirley moved Chris to Bozeman, MT in the autumn of 1977 to finish their education at Montana State University. In 1981, they had a daughter, Lyndsey Robyn, at their home on Fox Street on the university campus. It was always a joke, later in her college years, that they had had a Bobcat who lived in Griz country. In 1981, Ron received the MSU Art Scholarship, & in 1982 he was honored with the Worthy Student Scholarship.
Ron graduated, with honors, from Montana State University in 1984, receiving his BFA. He had begun making pottery, while attending MSU. This led him to open the Shoshone River Pottery at the Buffalo Bill Village in Cody, WY the summer of 1984. The Baker family spent almost every summer in Cody; but also spent one summer in Jackson Hole, WY & one in Cooke City, MT. The family moved to Laurel, MT in 1985, so that the kids could spend more time during the school years with their Grandma's Betty & Ruth. Ron completed his Elementary of Education at MSU-B in 1991, & became a substitute teacher for the Billings & Laurel school districts. He moved to Sheridan, WY in 1993 to become the "traveling" elementary art teacher. While in Sheridan, he was a WEA and NEA Member (1994-1998). In 1999, he moved to Wapiti, WY to help care for his mother and to be a K-12 art teacher in Meeteetse, WY. After he completed his art teaching career, he moved back to Laurel, MT. Ron then decided to go sightseeing & journey around the United States; traveling to 46 of the 50 states. In 2009, he took a local job in Missoula, MT to move the family closer to their daughter Lyndsey. He retired in 2014, & had planned on doing pottery again in the summer, before he got his prognosis.
Ron did many things in his waking life. His favorite past times were x-country & skate skiing. He enjoyed being able to be the first one to take his family & friends out for their initial ski lesson. He competed in many ski race competitions, consecutively, with his friend Glenn Schnell; including the Winter Games & the 25K Yellowstone Rendezvous. He also competed in running & bicycling races. If there was ever a time without snow, he could be seen around town on his rollerblades with ski poles. He believed that his greatest outdoor achievement had been riding his bike from Cody, WY up the Chief Joseph Pass & down the Beartooth Pass by Red Lodge, MT with Glenn.
Ron was a free spirit who loved the outdoors, & felt a spiritual connection to all of the offerings he received from nature. He spent most of his life camping, traveling, x-country/downhill skiing, rollerblading, hiking & bicycling with his family, brothers & friends. He also enjoyed traveling to see his son on tour with the Caribbean Drummers. Ron always stated that he was not an artist…just a potter. Tourists from all over the world would return to Cody every summer just to order more of his pottery. Even though he claimed to be only a potter, he produced many extraordinary mediums within his lifetime, other than clay; such as metal sculptures, photographs & paintings. He was a member of the Carbon County Art Guild & the Laurel Art Club. One of his favorite subjects was History & he could remember most details, even the dates of historical events, off the top of his head.
Ron would often take his kids to ski, run, rollerblade or ride bikes each day after school when they were younger. If they weren't working out, they were attending numerous craft shows & musical events. Even the day after his diagnosis, despite how weak he was, he took the time to spend one last trip, with each Chris & Lyndsey, to x-country ski in the Rattlesnake. Shirley enjoyed running, backpacking, laughing & spending time alone with her husband. Chris enjoyed throwing pottery, playing Cribbage Board, Hearts/Three Thirteen & strategizing Chess with his dad. Lyndsey enjoyed glazing pottery, watching Jeopardy, playing Three Thirteen & 'Bullshooting while Intellectualizing' with her father. As a family they all enjoyed working together in the pottery. They also spent any free time traveling, hiking, camping, biking, cooking, baking, rollerblading, floating & downhill/x-country skiing with Ron. Their favorite spot to travel as a family was to Coeur d'Alene, ID to eagle watch.
Ron was an amazing man. He had a heart of gold & he always went out of his way to help anyone in need. He never gave up on anyone & he never turned anybody away. His wisdom was a valuable asset to all who loved him. He enjoyed instructing others who wanted to learn, & he taught all of his life lessons with honor & humor. The greatest family value he taught to his family was how important it was to give to others, rather than to receive. The most important thing he did as a parent was that he urged his children to have free spirits. He was always willing & able to impart his knowledge on them, so that they could become skilled at anything they wanted to learn; & he always insisted that they live an independent life as individuals.

Ron had an amazing smile, & was always laughing or joking around with others. He was a very peaceful man, & he would always try to make people laugh during difficult times. He made sure to keep his family laughing each day. Even on the last day of his battle with cancer, he tried to crack some jokes. He fought his disease with dignity, & had a profound will to live, until the bitter end. He never gave up, & his family never gave up on him. He just told them be positive & to stay strong. They all prayed for a miracle to keep Ron in their lives, but in the end, they realized that the miracle was him. He claimed he was only a little part of this world, but to his family & friends he was the universe. He will never be forgotten. They will especially miss his sky blue eyes, but see them whenever they look towards the heavens.

The family feels blessed to have had Ron in their lives, & lucky to have been able to celebrate life with him every day. They now rejoice in the memories, & cherish the life lessons that he always gave to them freely. The family wishes to give special thanks to Zach White for the care he provided.

Ron is survived by his wife of 37 years Shirley Ryder Baker; his son Christopher Baker & his daughter Lyndsey Baker; all of Missoula, MT. His brothers Tom (Linda) Baker of Goodyear, AZ; Steve (Darlene) Baker of Renton, WA & Dave Baker of Lockwood, MT. His "son'' Chris Lance (Nicholas, Andrew & Arianna) of Missoula, MT; his nieces Cala & Lisa Baker of Billings, MT, & their children/grandchildren; his aunt Maryellen Cutshaw of Reynolds, ND & his rescued granddog Ziomi.

Ron was preceded in death by his mother Betty Baker-Little of Wapiti, WY; father Robert Baker of Lockwood, MT; step-father Don Little of Wapiti, WY; mother-in law Ruth Ryder-Ostermiller of Laurel, MT and various other relatives & friends.

Ron's wishes were to have the family hold a private viewing at the hospital, & to be cremated as soon as possible. Cremation took place at Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula, MT.

Condolences can be sent to:
The Bakers, 2713 O'Shaughnessy Street, Missoula, MT 59808.

Memorial services are planned for 2 pm on July 27th at the Rock Creek Resort, Banquet Reception Hall, in Red Lodge, MT. 6380 US 212, Red Lodge, MT 59068. It is the children's wish for those who attend the memorial to bring any duplicates of pictures that they have of Ron, or a written memory of a time they spent enjoying life with him. Artists are also welcome to express themselves through a medium of their choice to display at the memorial.

After the memorial, the family will take a drive up the Beartooth Pass and proceed down the Chief Joseph Pass to Cody, WY. They plan to meet for a celebration of his 65th birthday at the old pottery shop in Buffalo Bill Village on July 29th at 3 pm. 1723 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414. Anyone who knew Ron is welcome to stop by.

Memorials/Donations in Ron's name can be sent to:

MSU Billings Kids on Campus Program
112 N. Broadway, Billings, MT 59101

OR

Missoula Nordic Ski Club
91 Campus Drive, PMB 2805, Missoula, MT 59801

Read Ronald Baker's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.