Earl S. Baker, 100 years old, of Custer South Dakota went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 at Custer Regional Senior Care, surrounded by his family.

 Earl was born May 19, 1906 at Cavour, SD to Homer and Louise (Volz) Baker.  His family moved to a ranch on Medicine Mountain Road south of Hill City in 1910.  He attended school in Hill City.  Earl’s family later moved to Custer so their children could attend school in Custer.

  Earl worked at the Black Hills Bakery in Custer until he went to work for the International Minerals and Chemical Corporation where he was a truck driver and bin supervisor.  He retired in May of 1971 after working there for 31 years.  He worked for 4-mile Post and Pole after retiring from IMC.  Earl and his wife Hazel had a seed business where they collected pinecones and spruce cones and sold the seed to Nurseries throughout the USA.  Earl and Hazel were also avid Flea Market sellers and enjoyed going to auctions and rummage sales and collecting antiques.  Earl made many friends at the Flea Market.

  Earl married Hazel (Rice) on July 21, 1934 in Custer, SD.  They lived in Custer all their married life and raised four children.  He was a member of the “International Order of Odd Fellows” Lodge #121 for 63 years.  He was a member of the Custer Community Church for 68 years.  He was also a member of the Custer Volunteer Fire Department for 50 plus years.  He was an active member of the Custer Senior Citizens for over 20 years.  He was the president of the Custer Senior Center from 1983-1987.  Earl celebrated his 100^th birthday this past May at the Custer Regional Senior Care.  Earl and Hazel also celebrated 71 years of marriage in July of 2005.  His biggest enjoyment was visiting with his families and friends.  He was loved by all and will be missed deeply but knowing he is not hurting anymore and is looking down from a better place makes all of us smile and feel so blessed to have had him in our lives for so many years.  He has touched our lives in so many ways and will always remember his smile and the love he gave to all of us.

  He is survived by his wife hazel, Custer, SD; one son Homer (Dorothy) Baker, Custer, SD and three daughters Barbara (Ron) Mertens, Custer, SD, Gerry (Denny) Anderson, Custer, SD and Carol (Dave) Routh, Rapid City, SD.  He is also survived by 13 grandchildren; Rick (Kristy) Baker, Mick (Ronda) Baker, Diana (Doug) Freeland, Ronald (Bobbie) Mertens, Karen (Dean) Whitney, Todd (Erica) Mertens, Michael (Michelle) Anderson, Amy (Sheldon) Brown, Stacy (Brian) Garbisch, Kim Rosse, Stephanie Rosse, Penny (James) Gyke, Christy Ross and 31 great grandchildren, 1 great-great granddaughter, 2 step great-great granddaughters, several nieces and nephews.  He is survived by Hazel’s sisters; Ginny (Fred) Fernbaugh, Custer, SD Ila (Fred) Hornstra, Yankton, SD, Eunice Rice, Rapid City, SD Lucille Garcia, Lincoln, NE and one brother-in-law Jacob Baumgartner, Rapid City, SD.  He was preceded in death by his parents Homer and Louise Baker, 3 brothers, John, Vern and Frank and two sisters Dorothy and Hazel, 2 granddaughters and 1 step great grandson.