Erville Neola (Groenewold) Baker

Erville Neola Groenewold Baker died at Crossroads Care Center in Worthington, Minnesota on December 17, 2019. Born on her family farm south of Rushmore on May 7, 1933, Erville graduated from Worthington High School in 1951. She married Russell Lowell Baker on December 23, 1951 moving to Tampa, Florida for 2 years while Russ served in the Air Force. They raised their family in Sioux Falls, SD for over 15 years, moving to West Lafayette, Indiana to realize their dream of opening a restaurant in 1970.  They returned to Rushmore in 1973 after Russ became disabled, where she worked over the years for Rushmore Propane Company, First State Bank, as an election judge for the city and many years as a preschool teacher in Rushmore. A lifelong Christian, Erville was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Sioux Falls, the Federated Church of West Lafayette and the First Presbyterian of Rushmore.

She enjoyed traveling to various dairy conventions throughout the United States with her husband, taking annual vacations to The New Inn in Okoboji, volunteering for many organizations, visiting her children in their homes each year for holidays, and attending her grandchildren's musical programs and sporting events. She was known for her wonderful sense of humor and gift of hospitality: entertaining family and friends in her home, always setting a beautiful table with her best china and silver service.  Erville enjoyed singing in church choir and community choruses for many, many years.  She also enjoyed baking special birthday cakes, along with making crafts, Christmas angel ornaments, cloth napkins and table cloths for gifts for her friends and family.  She loved Diet Pepsi, tomatoes from the garden, fried egg sandwiches, tacos and potato soup.  Her grandchildren always loved receiving "Grandma B Candy" (Smarties).  She also loved and cherished parties and picnics with her many aunts, uncles and cousins, a good rummage sale and ladies church activities.

Erville is survived by her three children: Kim Tyler (David) of Eugene, Oregon; Lynn Baker-Dooley (David) of Kingston, Rhode Island and Paul Baker (Lori) of Sioux City, Iowa; seven grandchildren: Michael Tyler (Becka) of Beaverton, OR; Anna Keating (Michael) of LaVerne, CA; Christopher Baker Dooley of Bozeman, MT; Samantha Baker Dooley (Bradley Goff) of Kalispell, MT; Andrew Baker, South Sioux City, NE;  Emily Neddermeyer (Cody) of Iowa City, IA and Kemper Baker of Sioux City, IA and five great grandchildren: Jack and Ellie Tyler, Brendon, Patrick and Caitlin Keating. She was preceded in death by her husband, her sister Lois Fray, her brother Donald Groenewold and her parents Henry and Hannah (Bruns) Groenewold. Her family appreciated the loving care she received at Crossroads Care Center and Sanford Hospice.

Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Friday, Jan 3, at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington. Funeral will be 9:30 am Saturday, Jan 4 at the Dingmann Funeral Home, in Worthington, officiated by Rev. Lynn Baker-Dooley. A reception lunch will be at the Rushmore Community Center following the committal service at the Sunset Rest Cemetery.

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