Clarice A. Baker

ClariceAllene Baker, of Stromsburg, Nebraska, was welcomed to her heavenly home by her Lord Jesus on June 3, 2024 at her home in Stromsburg.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at the Stromsburg Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Brill officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Pianist will be Bruce Stavem. Vocalist will be Jane Stavem. Congregational hymns will be “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, and “How Great Thou Art.” Pallbearers will be Lance McKenney, Sam Twogood, Jake Twogood, Will Twogood, Coleman Baker, Tatum Baker and Peter Carlson. Honorary pallbearers will be Melissa McKenney, Whitney Franck, Katie Baker, Madi Wroblewski, Hannah Ammermann, Rebekah Carlson and Rachel Bergman. Interment will be in the Stromsburg Cemetery.

God blessed Clarice with the ability to live the life she loved on the farm until at age 93 when she met her Savior face to face. There’s a book titled “The Gospel Comes with a House Key”, which begins by stating “Radically ordinary hospitality – those who live it, see strangers as neighbors and neighbors as family of God. They see their homes not as theirs at all, but as God’s gift to use for the furtherance of His Kingdom.” This was the mission of Clarice Baker. She loved serving. She loved people and she loved Jesus. Those three ingredients transformed that little farm on Hwy 81 into a beacon of His light to all who entered. Forgetting about the business of her day, she gladly welcomed friend or stranger with a cup of egg coffee, usually something fresh from the oven, and sitting down for a chat. The time around the kitchen table was nourishment not only for the body, but for the soul. It’s almost funny how the author of the book calls something that our mom did so effortlessly as “radical hospitality”. To her this wasn’t radical at all, it was simple, Love Jesus by loving others.

Clarice was born July 15, 1930 in Gresham, Nebraska, to Clarence Milo and Bernice (Carlson)Austin. She attended school in Stromsburg, graduating from Stromsburg High School in 1944. Clarice worked for several years as secretary at the Stromsburg High School.

On March 3, 1951 she was united in marriage to Donald Allen Baker at the Stromsburg Methodist Church. To this union five children were born. They lived on the family farm south of Stromsburg where they were engaged in farming and raising cattle.

She was a member of the Stromsburg Baptist Church where she very involved in various aspects of the church including serving as Sunday School Superintendent for many years. She was also a member of the Women’s Circle, Women’s Legion Auxiliary, Women’s Club and was Swedish Festival Queen in 1987. She was very active in the community helping with various events.

Survivors include her children: Cindy Schofield of Stromsburg, Sarah (Dan) Carlson of Minneapolis, MN, Mitzi (Dan) McKenney of Presque Isle, Maine, Owen (Kari) Baker of Stromsburg and Rachel (Ryan) Twogood of Stromsburg; 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren; two step-grandchildren and three step-great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Don who passed away October 4, 2012; her parents Clarence and Bernice; infant son James; son-in-law John Schofield; sister Gloria (Dan) Christiansen; and brother Dan Austin.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later.

Dubas Funeral Home of Stromsburg and Osceola has been entrusted with arrangements. Dubasfuneralhome. com