Ralph (Butch) Baker

“Butch” Ralph Russell Baker, 75, passed away February 15, 2019 from complications due to cancer. 

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 23 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, ND.

There will be no visitation, cremation has taken place. 

He was born at St. Alexius in Bismarck, ND, February 25, 1943, to Russell and Virginia (Vold) Baker. He was raised on the family farm  and attended school in Kidder County. The oldest of three boys.

Butch was married to LaRue Link and to this union there were two children Richard and Caroline. The family made their home in Bismarck for 30 plus years. 

Butch worked various jobs from sales to working construction jobs. He was always busy making a living. During his construction years he became skillful of running a front-end loader, working until 1978 when he was injured on the job. 

Following the passing of his father, Butch moved to the family farm in Driscoll. Sharing the past 25 years with his life partner Sharon Mittleider. 

Butch enjoyed spending his time hunting, fishing, and farming. He was an avid hunter of small and big game and especially enjoyed hunting with his son, grandsons, and friends. Many long hours of visiting about the days hunt while enjoying dinner cooked up by Sharon.

In earlier years he went to various lakes fishing with friends and family. He enjoyed going to the casino and vacationing to Rapid City, SD and Montana. 

He was a member of the Bismarck Moose Lodge #302.

Dad/Grandpa was known for spoiling his children and grandchildren with big Valentine hearts on Valentine’s Day, overflowing Easter baskets for Easter, and never forgetting anyone of them at Christmas either. He will be remembered and deeply missed.

He is survived by Sharon Mittleider, his son Richard (Grace), his daughter Caroline (Marc) Roehrich, his grandchildren Aaron (Ashley) and Ross Baker, and Kaitlin, Mary, and Gage Roehrich, and his brother Lanny. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Virginia Baker, and his brother Alan.