Helen Baker

Helen M. Baker, 97, passed away June 16, 2015 at the Kansas City Hospice House. Helen was born March 28, 1918 in Lee, IL, the daughter of John and Nettie Malmberg, and had lived in Kansas City since 1955.

She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1941 where she was a member of Mortar Board national honorary. She received her Master’s degree in library science in 1952 and was inducted into Beta Phi Mu honorary.

She was the Librarian of the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library from 1967 to 1978 and a reference librarian at the Main Library. She was an Elder at the Second Presbyterian Church, a member of the Friends of Art, Nelson Gallery, the American Library Association, the Historic Kansas City Foundation, and Friends of the Kansas City Public Library, the University of Illinois Library, UMKC Library and Linda Hall Library. She was a leader of Betsi’s Girl Scout Troop.

Among the most enjoyable of her many volunteer activates were the Food Pantry at Central Presbyterian Church and as a tutor at the Troost School. She loved the Royals and one of her proudest moments was when she was honored to set in the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat at “The K.”

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Morse Baker, Sr., her parents, three brothers, a sister and son-in-law John Kretsinger. She is survived by four children: Roger M. Baker, Jr. (Laura), John Baker (Fran Rohrer), Elizabeth Baker (Glenn Tom), and Ann Kretsinger; 9 grandchildren--Jason Baker, Emily Kemp, Sativa Schroder, Elizabeth Henrich, Christopher Tom, Rebecca Tom, Andrew Tom, Kathryn Frohn and Sara Kretsinger and 11 great grandchildren. Her extended family includes Diana and Frank Reiser, Sue and Bill Douglas and their children.

Memorial services will be held at the Second Presbyterian Church, 318 E. 55th St, KCMO on July 2, 2015 at 3 p.m. In Lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Second Presbyterian Church Mission Sustaining Fund, the Endowment Fund of the Kansas City Public Library or Kansas City Hospice.

Condolences may be left at www.floralhillsfuneralhome.com.

Arr. D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO, (816) 353-1218.