Wayne Herman Baer
courtesy photo
Wayne Baer
RONAN — Wayne Herman Baer, a beloved husband, father and friend passed away of natural causes on Sept. 20, 2017. He was born on March 25, 1939, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to Orville and Leona Fay Baer. His parents divorced when he was very young and at 12 years of age his father died and he and his siblings went to live with his Aunt Halo and Uncle Bill in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He developed early on a love for watching airplanes fly overhead. He took his first lesson at age 17 and this was the beginning of a lifelong career in aviation. He met the love of his life Ruby Anderson and they married in Morgan, Minnesota, on July 15, 1962.
He was then drafted into the U.S. Army in August of 1962 and served two years in Washington D.C., in the Army’s Project White Coat. During his service in the Army he began his career as a pilot and aircraft mechanic, which brought him great satisfaction.
Wayne owned and operated Baer’s Flying Service near Ronan until he retired and handed the business to his son Monte. Wayne was also a dedicated member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and had a deep love for Jesus.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruby; his two brothers, Donald Baer of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and Orville and wife, Joyce Baer of Ronan; his four children: daughter, Brenda Seidel, and husband, Brent, of Phoenix, Arizona; son, Monte Baer; son, James and wife, Margaret Baer, all of Ronan; and daughter, Rebecca Cornell and husband, Brent, of Hayden, Idaho; and foster son, Dave and wife, Angie Wood, of Helena. Eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; many nieces, nephews and many good friends also survive him.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis Forget, of Ronan.
Funeral services will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at the Glacier View SDA School at 1:30 p.m. Interment services will follow at Ronan Cemetery. All who knew Wayne are welcome to attend.
Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at: www.shriderthompson.com. Arrangements are under the care of Shrider-Thompson Funeral Home and Crematory.
