Ben J. Baker

Bicknell, Utah – Ben J. Baker, age 83, passed away late Monday evening June 30, 2025, in Richfield, Utah leaving behind a family that dearly loved him.

Ben was born July 30, 1941, in Bicknell, Utah, a son of Kenneth Fay and Rachel Wood Baker. He was welcomed to the family by four siblings, Byron, twins Evelyn and Elayne and Judy. After Ben the family welcomed two more siblings, LuCinda and David. Ben graduated from Wayne High School in 1959. He joined the Army soon after and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington state before going overseas to Korea and Germany. He was honorably discharged in December 1965.

Ben moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa and worked as a driver for Sorority Inc. During that time he met and married Connie Kay Hiller August 25, 1967 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They moved to Underwood, Iowa where they welcomed three children, Kevin, Margaret, and Charlene. He worked for Pacific Food in Council Bluffs and later transferred with that same company to Salt Lake City and moved his family to Magna, Utah. Ben and Connie divorced. Ben worked with a nephew and bought the business which he called Baker Lawn Care. He worked for many years and made many friends of his customers doing a job he loved.

It was on a blind date that Ben met Kaye Lynn Weber Johnson and they were married November 19, 1994, in Mesquite, Nevada. Their marriage was solemnized in the Bountiful LDS Temple June 7, 2008. From this marriage he gained three stepdaughters, Jackie, Sheila & Samantha. Samantha was only 7 and he had another child in the house after raising his children. They lived in Magna for a short time before building their dream home in West Valley City. A home they loved and enjoyed for many years while making many great family memories there.

Ben had a great love for the outdoors and the more he was there the happier he was. He looked forward to going out and getting wood and if it was just a piece lost on the side of the road, that was great, but a truck bed full of wood was a good day. He loved his garden and truly was unbelievable in caring for it. He would weed it daily and looked forward to getting the produce bottled or frozen put away for enjoying and sharing with family and friends. He loved his family and always looked forward to visits, camping, hiking, or other adventures. He was a big tease and always would have a big grin on his face. If you started a water fight with him you better beware because he would always win in the end.

Ben and Kaye had many adventures on the Boulder Mountain, a place they both love. They would go explore on the side by side and wouldn’t want to come home until dark. For many years they enjoyed their camp trailer and camping trips with family. They looked forward to those special times and had great memories doing what they loved.

Ben was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved the Savior and the gospel. He spent many hours reading or listening to devotionals and messages from our prophets.

Ben is survived by his wife, Kaye Lynn Baker of Bicknell; children: Kevin (Jena) Baker of Washington, Utah; Margaret Elaine Baker of Bicknell, Utah; Charlene Kay Whipple of Woods Cross, Utah; stepdaughters: Jackie (Bill) Jones of Port Ludlow, WA; Sheila Johnson (Eric) Walters of Grapeview, WA; Samantha (Courtland) Love of West Jordan, Utah; 18 Grandchildren and 4 Great Grandchildren; siblings: Judy Evans of Salt Lake City, Utah and LuCinda (Charles) Wilson of Las Vegas, NV.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Rachel Wood Baker; siblings: Norma Baker, Byron (Margie) Baker, Evelyn (Grant) Back, Elayne (Kjae) Leslie, David Kent Baker, Gary Evan (brother-in-law) and Michael Scott Whipple (son-in-law).

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. in the Thurber LDS Ward Chapel in Bicknell, where friends may call for viewing Tuesday morning from 11:00 to 12:30 prior to the services.

Live streaming of the services can be found at: www.springerturner.com under Ben’s obituary about 15 minutes prior to starting time.

Burial with military honors accorded by the Harold Brown American Legion Post #92 and the Utah Honor Guard will be in the Bicknell Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.