Darlene L. Baker

Darlene L. Baker, 82, of Mason City, died suddenly Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at her home . Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. on Friday, March 18, 2011, at the Church of Christ, 710 North Kentucky Ave. with Alan Sheldon officiating. Interment will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held 5:00 P.M to 7:00 P.M Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Memorials may be directed to the Darlene L. Baker memorial fund in care of the family. Darlene was born October 22, 1928 in rural Austin, MN, the daughter of Wildy and Persis (Weaver) Reckard. She graduated from Nora Springs High School in 1947 and attended Minnesota Bible College. She married DeLoss Baker on December 11, 1948 in Clear Lake, IA. Darlene and DeLoss moved to Mason City in 1953. Darlene worked for the IOOF Home as a Dietary Aide for 21 years until her retirement in 1991. Darlene was a member of the Church of Christ where she belonged to many groups and participated in many church activities. She a very active long-time member and officer of the Queen Rebekah Lodge, Ladies Auxiliary Patriarch Militant, serving on the IOOF Care Review Board. Darlene enjoyed crocheting, handwork, gardening, canning and most of all sharing and spending time with her family, grandkids and friends. Darlene was known for her generosity, abounding love, hard work, determination and huge hugs. Darlene was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, DeLoss Baker of Mason City, children, Dianne (Richard) Mace of ONeill, NE, Stephen Baker (Charlene) of Solon, IA, Debera (John) Norton of Maple Grove, MN, Rebecca (Richard) Ricca of San Diego, CA, Janet (Scott) Queckboerner of Urbandale, IA, and Linda (Douglas) Miller of Mason City, IA; seventeen grandchildren - Michael (Jessica) Mace, Hartford, CT; Tracy (Jeff) Bye, Omaha, NE; Briana, Sarah, Megan, Vanessa, and Jeanna Norton of Maple Grove, MN; Tarah Schultz, Denver, CO; Cassie (Chris Ford) Miller, Raleigh, NC; Joel Miller, Denver, CO; Evan Schultz, Iowa City, IA; Audrey and Braden Ricca, San Diego, CA; Jordan Queckboerner, Cedar Falls, IA; Jared Queckboerner, Urbandale, IA; Jeffery Betzer and Jennifer Zahorik, Cedar Rapids, IA; Four great-grandchild, Caden Bye, Omaha, NE; Sam Betzer, Kaitlyn and Roman Zahorik, Cedar Rapids, IA; and sisters, Vilda (Walter) Jones of Des Moines, IA, Betty (Edward) DeVries and of Sedalia, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, DeLoss Bruce Baker Jr.; granddaughter, Lori Ann Mace in infancy; sister, Bernice Sanders and brother, Clifford Huntley.

Memorials:
Memorials may be directed to the Darlene L. Baker memorial fund in care of the family.

Cemetery:
Interment will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation:
Visitation will be held 5:00 P.M to 7:00 P.M Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Service:
Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. on Friday, March 18, 2011, at the Church of Christ, 710 North Kentucky Ave. with Alan Sheldon officiating.