Dave
Baker
Dave Baker, formerly of International Falls, was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in the Nov. 4 election.
As a state representative, he will represent District 17B, which includes most of Kandiyohi County, as well as the communities of Willmar, Spicer, New London, Atwater, Sunburg, Pennock and Kandiyohi.
Baker, who is married to Mary Baker, lived in International Falls from 1982 to 1994. During that time he managed the Paulbeck’s Super Valu grocery store and was general manager of the Holiday Inn.
“It’s like home to us and Rainy Lake is a magical place,” he said of Borderland, where family still live. He noted his wife’s brothers Phil, Steve and Kent Paulbeck, as well as Dave’s sister Jennifer and husband Steve Windels, live in the Falls today.
The couple moved to Willmar to work with a large hospitality company and he started his own business in 1999. Baker Hospitalities owns and operates a hotel, restaurant and cruise line business on Green Lake, near Spicer. They owned and/or sold other businesses during that time including Melvins on
the Lake, Colonial Inn and Northern Inn Hotel and Suites. Baker recently served on the Minnesota Restaurant Association Board of Directors and was the chair-elect of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce before deciding to run for office. Baker also served as president of the Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission for seven years.
Dave and Mary Baker have three children, Olivia, Alex, and Dan, who died in 2011. The Bakers started the Dan Baker Foundation to support individuals and families fighting addiction. More than $120,000 has been donated to organizations helping with programming, facilities and educational opportunities for schools.
Memorial services for Leroy Allen Peck, 72, of International Falls, who died Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, were conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Green-Larsen Mortuary, International Falls.
Officiating was the Rev. Irv Arnquist.
Honorary pallbearers were all his loving family and friends.
Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji, at a later date.
Arrangements were with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
Helen Magdalene Oster, 94, of International Falls. Minn., died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, at Good Samaritan Society-International Falls.
The former Helen Niedzweicki was born May 26, 1920, in Tenstrike, Minn., to Kazimiera and Kajetan (Anciszewski) Niedzweicki.
Helen graduated from high school in 1937.
She worked for MD&W in Ranier, Minn., as a stenographer clerk.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Kazimiera and Kajetan.
Helen is survived by her caring friends and caretakers at Good Samaritan and her St. Thomas Church friends.
A memorial mass will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Good Samaritan Society-International Falls.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
Robert (Bob) LaFond, of Circle Pines, Minn., passed away Monday, Nov. 17, 2014.
Mass of Christian Burial, is planned for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at St. Joseph of the Lakes Catholic Church, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes, Minn.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
