Mary was born to Leach and Edna (Farnsworth) Bryant on March 27, 1947. She was raised on the family ranch in Pleasant Valley, Meade County, SD. She attended a rural elementary school then attended high school in Sturgis, SD, graduating in 1966.

On December 9, 1967, she was united in marriage to Raymond F. Baker in Piedmont, SD. She moved to the family ranch in Hereford, SD, where they raised their five children; Cody, Tonya, Roxona, Lawonza, and Joseph. She resided on the family ranch until moving to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in June of 2002. Special thanks are offered to the staff of the Good Samaritan Nursing Home.

Mary was a very dedicated and beloved mother. She enjoyed horses and did a wonderful job raising numerous bum lambs. She was also a helpful hand to many in the community helping out by babysitting kids in the community. Mary was an advocate for youth in 4-H and was a leader of the Hereford Helpers 4-H club for several years and a member of the Hereford sewing circle. She also worked the Hereford precinct election board for many years. In her later years, her focus was on her beloved eight grandchildren and taking in all their activities.

Mary Ellen Baker, 69, died Monday, February 6, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in New Underwood after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease.

Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Raymond Baker, rural New Underwood, SD; children, Cody (Lynn) Baker, Rapid City, SD, Tonya Baker, Union Center, SD, Roxona (Dana) Thompson, Lawonza (Brad) Montague, and Joseph Baker, all of New Underwood, SD; and eight grandchildren, Trevor and Nicholas Baker, Keely (Kenny Carmichael), Rowdy, and Luke Thompson, Taylin and Kade Montague, and Hank Baker. In addition, she is survived by one sister, Ida Tryon; five brothers, Elmer Bryant, Roy Bryant, John Bryant, Paul Bryant, and Dave (Gracia) Bryant; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Leach and Edna Bryant; two brothers, Louis Bryant and Dale Bryant; one niece, Chelsey Bryant; and one great-niece, Vicky Evans.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening at the United Methodist Church in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 10, 2017, at the United Methodist Church in Sturgis. Burial will be at the Baker Family Cemetery.

A memorial has been established.