Betty Jean Baker, 89, of Laramie, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Laramie Care Center where she has lived for the last two years. 

She was born March 30, 1932, in Laramie, Wyoming, a daughter of William (Bud) and Lillian (Henderson) Arp.  She was married to Ray Holden in 1948 and two sons were born to that marriage, Dennis and Mike. Her son Mike drowned at the age of two and she was divorced sometime after that tragedy.

Betty worked as a telephone operator between marriages and spent time with her family as she coped with the loss of her son.

She later married Neil C. Baker around 1956.  Neil worked on road construction and they moved around, mostly in Wyoming in the early years of their marriage.  Betty and Neil accepted the Lord Jesus as their savior at a revival in Kaycee, Wyoming in 1964.

Betty was a housewife most of their marriage. They owned Mountain View Trailer Court and another one off the interstate in west Laramie. During those years she spent much time helping out and caring for her nephews: Tommy, Chad, Ronny, and Scott Arp.  She taught Sunday School at Berean Baptist Church and served there faithfully. Camp Grace was the highlight of her summers where she was a counselor and mentored many children and adults.

 In 1976 they moved to Clackamas, Oregon to be near her granddaughters, where they purchased a motel and operated it until 1989. Betty worked at a Christian school as a teacher’s aide for several years.  Granddaughters, Robin and Charity spent many weekends with their grandparents and enjoyed eating at KFC, playing scrabble, and sewing.

They sold the motel and moved back to Laramie when they retired and lived in Roach Addition.

In July of 1990 Cornerstone Baptist Church held their first service in the living room of the Baker’s home. Later a church building was purchased on 5^th street and ultimately they moved into the church’s current location on Pierce Street.

Betty was preceded in death by: her husband Neil, son Mike, her parents, and a stepson Neil Baker Jr.

Betty is survived by her son Dennis Holden and wife Terrye of Cameron Park, California; granddaughters Robin Chiafullo and Charity Dietrich both live in Marysville, Ohio. She is also survived by her sister Rose Flieder, Laramie; brother James Arp (Candy), Rapid City, South Dakota; aunt Dorthea Henderson, Banning, California; six great grandchildren and several nephews and one niece.

Betty was interred at Green Hill Cemetery on May 4, 2021. A memorial service will be held at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 590 Pierce on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Steve Salmans officiating. 

Memorials may be made to Cornerstone Baptist Church in lieu of flowers.