Kathleen DeEtte Christensen Baker
April 15, 1940 – May 27, 2024
Kathleen was born April 15, 1940, in Pocatello, Idaho, returning to her heavenly home the morning of May 27, 2024 in Loveland, Colorado.
Kathy was third of six siblings living on a dry farm in Arimo,Idaho attending Arimo Elementary School, Junior High, and graduating from Marsh Valley High School.
Kathy grew up playing the piano as well as the clarinet and bassoon in the Marsh Valley High School Band and Pep Band. Later she learned the accordion and the organ.
After graduation from Marsh Valley, Kathy enrolled at Brigham Young University, majoring in music where she was invited to sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Instead Kathy chose to follow her new Army husband to Frankfurt, Germany, where she worked at the local youth hostel and taught English for five years.
Upon returning to the States and single, Kathy gained employment in Salt Lake City. One of Kathy’s greatest desireswas to have children, which was fulfilled when she married, gaining Cathy, Sheryl, and Jimmy with daughter Jobie rounding out the family.
Kathy was always busy. At home she taught musical kindergarten, piano, and organ lessons. She co-owned a tire store, an auction house, and an antique clock shop. Kathy raced competitively racing winning awards in the TR6 and Morgan +4Roadster in area Auto-Cross Races.
Kathy was passionate about bowling acting as Director and Coach of the YBA [Youth Bowling Association]. Kathy also competed in Women and Co-Ed Leagues garnering awards.
After Germany, Kathy relocated often including New York, Colorado, California, Arizona and finally retiring in Salida, Colorado making friends wherever she went. Kathy had a knack for bringing mirth and laughter to all things social; always – so much dang fun.
Kathy was preceded in death by her daughter Jobie Gaye Baker, who died from cancer at the age of fifty-four, May 2019.
Preceding Kathy in death are her parents, Martha and Albert Christensen, her older sister Martha Marie Christensen Zappitello, and older brother, Albert David Christensen, nieces Judy Lyn Zappitello and Jenise Marie Zappitello, and nephew David Michael Zappitello.
Kathy is survived by her children by marriage and the familiesof Dr Cathy Baker and daughter Jessica (California), Sheryl Ballard, (husband Trip, son Sam and daughter Cassandra, Colorado), Jim Baker (Colorado) and daughter Grace (Texas).
Kathy is also survived by her younger sister Ruthanne Christensen (Orem, Utah), Emory Christensen (Carma, Boise Idaho), and Brian Christensen (Boise, Idaho) with twenty-five surviving nieces and nephews (five preceding Kathy in death-totaling thirty) and seventy-seven grand nieces and nephews. Rest in peace Sissy…..
Memorial Services are held Saturday, June 15th, 2024 at 1p.m. at the Christensen Family Plot in the Downey Graveyard.