Etta Baykara

Etta Frieda Baykara was born in Hague, North Dakota May 2, 1928, to August and Anna Maria Hieb. Etta, along with her ten brothers and sisters, worked on the family farm until the family relocated to Rupert, Idaho in ~1941. Etta and several brothers and sisters learned to play music - accordion, piano, organ, etc. by ear when growing up – over the years they always enjoyed having their “jam sessions” at family events or anytime they were together.

Etta continued to work on the family farm in Rupert, as well as working at the local bowling alley, and waitressed at Cooper’s Drive-In where she met and married Miles Cooper. Miles and Etta had two daughters, Marilyn and Eunice, then relocated to southern California in the early 50s where their third daughter Annette was born. Etta dedicated herself to raising her 3 girls until she became owner of Alta’s Fabrics in Buena Park, California where she successfully ran the business for several years. In 1976 Etta met and married Joe Baykara and relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada where she managed a local shoe store. In her retirement she and Joe performed and became popular entertainers as the “Polka Dots” at several nursing homes. Etta also wrote and published her autobiography “No Bull”, so her grandkids and other younger generations would know what a different world she was raised in - she was very proud of her book and her life story.

Etta is survived by her husband Joe Baykara, and her daughters Marilyn Kelly and Annette Levin; (Eunice James deceased 2015), 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Services will be held Monday March 17th at 10:00am at Palm Mortuary, with a reception following at the home of Annette and Tom 7808 Spindrift Cove St. Las Vegas NV 89139.