June D. Baker

June Delpha Baker passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 3, 2022, of natural causes. June retained her strength, humor, and relentless positivity until the end of her 102 (almost 103) years of life. A memorial service will be held on July 16, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel located at 1410 13th Street South in Great Falls. Also, a celebration of life will be held on September 9, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Miles City, Montana, located at 1409 Main Street. June was born to Merrill Babcock and Winifred (Gratz) Babcock on June 12, 1919, in Knowlton, MT where the Babcocks were homesteaders. June joined the family that consisted of an older brother, Elmer Zeno and sister, Ethel May. Sadly, Ethel May passed away in June's early childhood so brother Elmer became an extra father figure who always took special care of her and protected her in the country school settings. June smiled when she recalled that "being the baby, she didn't have chores to do so she and an old, stray dog named Shep spent most hours reading." She also recalled having an early interest in hair styling, that she wore "girlie clothes that her mother made "and had "rag curls" (ringlets) that her mother carefully styled for her. Also, June stated she continually pestered her mother to let her style her mother's hair, therefore, June's mother " never had dry hair because June was always at it." June made the decision to go to beauty school by the age of 10. June went to high school in Miles City where she worked in a grocery store and cleaned houses for funds. She also did all the hair of all of her friends for 15 cents a hairdo! June had a personal strength and a decisiveness that combined with an independent spirit led her to a lifetime of achievement. She graduated from Townsend Beauty School in Billings never missing a day of school. Her stated goal was to be able to guide her own life. June's Beauty Shop in Miles City was opened on December 27, 1940, which eventually became June's Beauty Land where she operated for 55 years. She became an instructor and opened up Miles City College of Beauty that trained hundreds of young people over decades. In a reunion of the Beauty School graduates a few years ago, more than a hundred people arrived from all over the United States. The shop, however, was in an area that had few parking spaces, so she continually parked on Miles City Main Street racking up lots of tickets, hence, she became acquainted with the Chief of Police, Riley Baker. Riley Baker had a son named Bob. At first, Bob claimed a friendship with June's friend, but as any good love story will progress, Bob started walking out with June. She smiled when telling this story and said, "He laughed a lot, and he was comfortable, safe, and had such a good sense of humor...only bad habit was he walked so fast! Come back and stay by me I told him." They were married for 56 years. Obviously, he slowed down or she sped up! Their wedding vows were exchanged on a Sunday afternoon at the Presbyterian church. The church was filled with baskets of gladiolas, blue iris, and daffodils. She carried pink roses and white sweet peas. June was operating her beauty school and Bob was a fireman on the Milwaukee Railroad. Bob Baker passed in 2000, but now they are together again for the first time in over 22 years. They had one son, Lynn Baker, born January 11, 1946. Lynn, currently an attorney in Great Falls, MT, married Imogene Derden in 1967. They had three children, Channing Treavor (Gail) of Boise, Idaho; TeTe Chanelle (Joe) Mazzacanno of Buckeye, Arizona; and Cory Justin Lewis (Janna) Baker of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Lynn and Imogene later divorced, and Lynn married Sandra C. Erickson. Bob and June hosted their grandchildren in Miles City for most summers where fishing and (for TeTe Chanelle) the beauty shop became their serious focus. Many stories are told of summer activities, mischief, "shopping trips to the dump," and wild card games when the kids were there. Also, their home was a favorite visiting place of family who lived far away. June celebrated her 100th birthday in 2019 with family and friends from several western states. A nephew, Jon Seitz, composed a song dedicated to June to the tune of The Wind Maria. He sang it many times and the group pressed on with stories of summer exploits while the room filled with spontaneous laughter and warm memories. She loved it. June achieved her goal of achievement and guiding her own life. She took an interest in hypnosis where she focused on the use of the mind to better the circumstances of life. She would instruct family and friends to "let go of the stuff that is negative because it isn't important, and to stay true to the positive that is important to you." June attended workshops for Mind Control in Montana, Texas, California, Colorado and New Mexico. June's list of achievements and awards include 1) Highest Achievement.... Hands down!!! Her son, Lynn Baker, and her three grandchildren, Chan, Chanelle and Cory. She considered them her highest achievement!!! 2) Held a Montana hair dressing license for the longest period of years (over 80 years - 2020). 3) Was awarded a Montana State Cosmetologist's Association Life-Time Achievement award (1996). 4) Served on Montana State Examining Board of Cosmetology 5) Received Governor’s Citation for service to the state on the Montana Board of Cosmetology from several Montana governors. 6) Recognized and honored by the First Presbyterian Church of Miles City, Montana as a member for 65 years. 7) Was a member of the Montana Board of Barbers for several terms 8) Served on the National Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, Inc. 9) Flew in a WWII open cockpit biplane at age 95…just for fun! June was a friend to countless people, a grandmother to youngsters of various ages and various parents, an active and concerned citizen in her hometown, a life-long believer in our country and prized herself that she voted in every election since she was eligible, was an election judge, a driver for Meals on Wheels, and an all-around fine person. She will be missed but never forgotten.