David E. Baker

David was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 30, 1934, and died peacefully on July 15, 2022, at the age of 88 in Spokane, Washington. He was a leader, minister, father, friend, theologian, counselor, singer, and, for lack of a better word, quipster. He was affectionately called Papa by his kids and grandchildren.

David was the son of Ehrenfried Hugo Baker and Aurora Kathleen (Tengblad) Baker. David’s trademark middle initial comes from his father’s first name. Ehrenfried was also a Lutheran pastor. David’s mother died when he was only seven years old. He soon had a new mother, Arlene Amy (Magnason) Baker, and he became big brother to two sisters, Joelene O. and Joy E., in the parsonage of the Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A gifted student, singer, and basketball player, he excelled in school and was steeped in his faith. Music, reading, writing, and preaching became life-long joys for him. Walking and travel gave him great pleasure. And his informed sermons and strong baritone voice brought comfort and happiness to many.

He graduated from Luther Junior College in Wahoo, Nebraska, Augustana College, and its Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois. He met and married his college sweetheart Nancy Helena Tolin at Augustana College in 1957. He and Nancy had their first child, Karla Dawn, in 1960, when he was ordained and called to his first parish, Christ Lutheran Church in Edmonton, Alberta (1960-1965). It was in Edmonton that they had their first son, Peter-Tolin David (1963). David’s next calling was Central Lutheran Church, Yakima, Washington, where he had previously spent a two-year internship before heading to Canada. It was in Yakima where “the little kids,” Andrea Jo, born in 1966, and Lee David, adopted at the age of 3 in 1969, joined the family. Inspired by the political tumult of the 1960s, David began to gain both passion and skill for being a service to others. He served on boards that advanced human rights, ecumenical collaboration, and an innovative living community to empower young women called “Portia House.”

In 1972 at age 37, he and Nancy moved their family to Corvallis, Oregon, where David was called to pastor Grace Lutheran Church for 11 years. He served in various leadership capacities in the Pacific Northwest Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Emanual Hospital, and other ecumenical organizations. He confirmed, married, and buried scores of congregants as he ministered to his members with care. A life-long learner, it was during his time in Corvallis that he spent summers earning advanced degrees from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California (Th.M.) and San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California (D.Min.).

David and Nancy divorced in 1983. He then married Gloria (Skinner) in 1984 and they lived in California for nearly 30 years, first in San Jose, where David served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, and then in Penn Valley. David took great pride and enjoyment in his Swedish ancestry, often traveling to Sweden. In 2008, he was elected as his alma mater's Executive Director of the Augustana Heritage Association and subsequently served on the board of the Swedish Council of America. David and Gloria served together on the staff of Holden Village, the international Lutheran Retreat Center in the Cascade Mountains in Central Washington, and Spirit in the Desert, the Lutheran Retreat Center in Carefree, Arizona. They enjoyed long-distance road trips in their VW camping van and traveled widely on cruises around the world. In 2016, they moved to Spokane to be closer to family. David’s immediate family owes a debt of gratitude to Gloria’s children and their spouses in Spokane, who helped to care for him.

David is preceded in death by his wife Gloria just three months prior. They leave, between them, a large extended family. David is survived by his sisters Joelene and Joy; his four children, Karla Smith, husband Korey, and granddaughter Katie; Peter-Tolin and husband Jay Quiggle; Lee, wife Sabrina Thomas, and grandchildren Yaa and Noah Lee; Andrea Dillon, husband Preston, granddaughter Remy, and step-grandchildren Jenna Lee, Reiss, and Delaney; and Nancy Tolin, the mother of his children. He is also survived by four stepdaughters and their spouses and families that include nine step-grandchildren; and he leaves behind numerous step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Service to his various communities was a guiding light throughout David’s long life. In one sermon, he reflected on why he committed his life to serving others. “As a Christian . . . I feel that it is my responsibility, wherever I may be, to use whatever skills or gifts that God has given me to try to benefit the neighborhood or the community in which I live.”

A private memorial service will be held by the family. Donations in memory of David E. Baker may be made to Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), Holden Village, and ELCA World Hunger.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HazenJaegerValley.com for the Baker family.