Sharon Rae Baker

Sharon Rae Baker was born December 23, 1939. She left this world on January 1, 2023. In between those dates, she lived a life filled with adversity and adventures. But most of all, she left a lasting mark on all our lives. She was fiercely independent and was never afraid to tell you exactly what she thought.

She was born the 8th of 12 children to Walter and Louise Stockham in Buhl, ID.  She learned the value of hard work on the family farm, in charge of milking cows. Throughout her life, she embodied that work ethic both professionally and personally.

Sharon was ahead of her time and did things her way. She shared a story with her granddaughter about the time she tried to wear pants to her high school graduation (which they all got sent home for) and continued to go against the grain by joining the Navy in July of 1958. She served a year and then married the love of her life, Deulan Baker, on February 20th, 1959.

Of that union, four boys were born. Mark, Steven and Wesley were born in Michigan and Jason followed in Rhode Island. The family moved several times over the first 16 years of their marriage as Deulan served in the US Navy.

Their final move as a family brought them to Paradise Valley, Montana on January 1, 1976, where Sharon and Deulan spent the next couple of years building their life. However, their time together was cut short when Deulan unexpectedly passed away due to a tragic airplane accident on May 29, 1978.

Following his death, Sharon went to work to support her family and raise her boys. She retired in 2007 after 20 years of work at Livingston Convalescent Center. She took pride in her skills and the relationships she built with the families of those she cared for.

Her greatest joy was her boys and their children. She is survived by her four sons, Mark, his wife, Penny, and their two sons, Boone & Kory (Kayla) all of Livingston, Steven and his wife Susan, their son, Andy (Andrea and their two daughters, Ainsley and Elowyn), all of Billings, Wes of Livingston, and Jason, his wife DeeDe and their daughter Kati (Kevin and son, Callan), also of Billings.

Sharon is also survived by three brothers and two sisters, Ron Stockham of Gooding, ID; Barry Stockham of Gooding, ID; Robert Stockham of Wendall, ID; Sue Jerke of Buhl, ID, and Sally Andrews of Wendall, ID.

Franzen – Davis Funeral Home of Livingston, Montana will be overseeing arrangements. Services for Sharon will be held at Shorthill Cemetery on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 11 am. A private family viewing will take place from 9:30 am to 10 am on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in Sharon’s honor to Dog Tag Buddies; PO Box 250; Shepherd, MT 59079 or directly through their website at dogtagbuddies.org