- Date Of Birth: January 27, 1922
- Date Of Death: April 26, 2016
- State: New Mexico
Betty Budge Baker was born in McPherson, Kansas on January 27, 1922. She passed away on April 26, 2016 at the GoodLife Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in Hobbs, NM where she’d lived since 2012.
Betty attended the University of New Mexico, Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Arkansas. Betty was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and valued those friendships her entire life.
Betty married her husband and the love of her life, Joe B. Baker, Jr., on October 8, 1943 after he returned from serving in the Aleutian Islands as a Major in the Air Force during World War II. After living in Clovis, NM, Salina, KS, Palo Alto, CA, Lafayette, LA, and Midland, TX, Betty and her husband moved in 1960 to Albuquerque, NM where they lived for over 50 years. Betty and Joe had two children and her life’s goal was to be a great wife and mother. She definitely met her goal.
Betty attended Central United Methodist Church and volunteered for a number of years in the CUMC Thrift Store. She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends and she was a member of Chapter X P.E.O. in Albuquerque. As an only child, she delighted in marrying into a larger family and adored her in-laws.
She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Budge, her mother, Glee Iden, her step-father, Clarence Iden, and her beloved Aunt Gaye Iden. Her husband, Joe, also preceded her in death in 2005.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Coll, and her husband, Lawrence, of Hobbs, her son, Dr. Joe B. Baker III and his wife, Connie, of Olympia, WA. Betty is also survived by her four grandchildren, Katelyn Scott and her husband, Jeff, Jori Sechrist and her husband, Tim, Jebb Baker and his wife, Kate, and Nicholas Baker. She was blessed with seven wonderful great grandchildren as well and a special niece, Jan Dorris.
