Dean Pratt Baker

Dean Pratt Baker passed from this life on July 7, 2026, with his family at his side. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend to many.

Dean was born on Dec 7, 1936, in a humble home in Mink Creek, Idaho to William M. and Veda Pratt Baker. He and his twin brother Gene joined four older siblings, Clara, Donna, John and Marilyn. He was raised and educated in Preston, Idaho.

At age 18, he joined the US Army. He was with the 11th Airborne division, jumping out of ‘perfectly good airplanes’. He broke his leg on one of these jumps, and this serendipitous event changed the trajectory of his Army experience and future career, as he was then sent to train as a Communications Specialist and Radio Repair Technician. This sparked his interest and talent for a career in electronics. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal after 3 years of service.

Dean returned to Preston where he met and married Nina Gassman. Over the next decade, they welcomed 4 children to their family; Brad, Lynn, Sherry and Michelle.

Dean’s skill and talent in electronics led to employment with the Boeing Company in Seattle, WA, where he worked on the Minuteman Missile System. That work continued with a transfer to Autonetics in Southern California, where the family moved. This led to a position in the Space & Information Division where he was actively part of NASA’s AeroSpace Apollo Program. Dean was laid off after cutbacks to the Space program in the early ‘70s and the Baker family moved to Pocatello, Idaho. Dean and Nina divorced soon afterward.

Dean took a teaching position at Burley High School in 1973, serving over the next two and a half decades as the Electronics instructor and advisor for the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA).

Dean married Ruth Ann Durrant in 1974 and was a loving father to the Pack children; Tom, Gerri, Sherri and Sarah.

Over time, Dean’s own children joined him and Ruth Ann’s family in their Heyburn home where there were some memorable and lively years, having eight teenagers in the same household! The Heyburn years were filled with camping, boating, fishing, water-skiing, scuba-diving and snow-skiing, which he did plenty of as he helped maintain the Pomerelle Ski Resort.

Dean loved to fly his plane and spent many hours soaring over beautiful Idaho with friends and family. His grandchildren delighted in going up with Grandpa to ‘Float Pennies’.

During his time at Burley High, he created Idaho’s first state certified secondary electronics program. He was named Idaho’s Teacher of the Year for ‘96-’97 and was honored as the 1996 VICA Advisor of the Year. The two-year course he built was named the state’s Outstanding Technical Program for 1999.

He influenced the lives of hundreds of students for good and guided many students to State and National Honors and then on to successful lives and careers.

He also served as a Heyburn City Councilman from 1978-1982. Dean and Ruth Ann eventually divorced.

Dean married Robyn Holyoak Krivanec in 2002 and was a good and loving father to her children; Amy Jo, Nathan, Deidra, Curtis and Trevor. He taught them many essential life lessons.

Dean and Robyn built a lovely home in Filer where they have lived for the past 24 years. They enjoyed fishing, riding ATVs, geocaching, dancing and traveling together. Their combined talents for music, singing and dance have entertained many as they were part of the Gem State Fiddlers. Dean made many life-long friends with his associations there.

Robyn’s dad gave them an old Model A as a wedding gift. They put every extra cent they had into its restoration, even before buying curtains or planting grass! Two years later they had a beautiful classic car, and Dean took great pride in driving it around town and in parades. He delighted in serenading all with the ‘Ah-Oooga’ of its horn! 

It is difficult, at best, to define a life as vibrant and full as Dean’s in just a few paragraphs. He lived large both in stature and in spirit. The man was always going and doing and was a people person to the max! Strangers were just friends that Dean hadn’t yet met. He loved to strike up a conversation with anyone who happened to be nearby. He often said it was his goal to make at least one person smile or laugh every day and it was a rare day that he didn’t meet that goal.

Dean was a man of many hats!

He loved to fish and for many years wore the perfect fishing cap with an Idaho logo and lures appropriately attached.

He had a tall and splendid top hat that always attracted attention. He kept a small rabbit tucked inside and would reveal this hidden treasure to the delight of any and all children (and adults) that he encountered.

He wore his cowboy hat - and made it look good - while playing guitar and singing songs of the old west or when he was swing dancing. The man could cut a rug and continued to do so right up to the end!

He treasured his Airborne cap and was proud to have served his country. Wearing this cap often caught the attention of other veterans and he reveled in meeting and talking with his brothers in arms.

Dean is preceded in death by his parents, siblings and a grandson. He is survived by his loving wife, Robyn, his children; Brad (Shawna), Lynn (Wanda), Sherry West (Troy) and Michelle Armstrong (Mark). He is loved and will be missed by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren along with the Holyoak, Krivanec and Pack families.

Dean will receive Military honors at a graveside service on Friday, July 17th at 10 am at the Snake River Canyon National Cemetery - 1585 E Elm Street, Buhl, ID.

A Celebration of Life and luncheon will follow at 11 am at the LDS cultural hall in Filer - 840 W Midway St., Filer, ID.

We invite all friends and family to attend both events. All are welcome to share a story, memory or reflection at the Celebration of Life.

Dress code is casual (jeans are acceptable).

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Dean's memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.