Sandra L. Baker, age 65, of Brooten, MN, died Tuesday, August 2, 2016, at her home under the care of Glacial Ridge Hospice and surrounded by her family. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, August 6th at St. Donatus Catholic Church in Brooten, with Father Peter Kirchner officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. on Friday at the funeral home in Brooten, with Parish Prayers at 7:00 P.M. Visitation will continue at the church on Friday morning, one hour prior to the Mass.  Inurnment will be in St. Donatus Catholic Cemetery, Brooten. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Brooten.

Sandra LaVern Baker, the daughter of Erwin and Rita (Bitzan) Karger was born on August 28, 1950 in Graceville, MN. Her family moved back-and-forth to various farm communities as she grew up, and she spent time in Kramer and Egeland, ND; Graceville, Parkers Prairie and Brooten, MN. She attended and graduated from Brooten High School. She was an active member of St. Donatus Catholic Church, where she spent many years teaching religious education and vacation Bible school. She was a previous owner/operator of "R" Salads as well as being employed for many years at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary as a Special Education paraprofessional. In this role, she made a significant difference in many children's lives. She was united in marriage to Michael Torgerson in 1968 and Gary Baker in 1978.  She and her family made their home primarily in Brooten along with a short time in Sedona, AZ. She loved reading, playing card games with friends and family, conquering Sudoku puzzles, quilting, hiking and camping, and cooking. She really enjoyed just spending time with friends, family and her daughter's dog Maddie. Most of all, she cherished every minute that she spent with her 17 grandchildren.

She is survived by parents Erwin and Rita (Bitzan) Karger, sons Jason (Jeanne) and Joshua (Sara McCann) Baker, daughters Cheryl Torgerson, Amanda (Joe) Olson, Casandra (Tim) Ryan, and Barbie (Ben) Nelson.  She is survived by her 17 grandchildren, Michael (Tia) and Matthew Grundseth; Adelyn, Camdyn and Evan Baker; Adisen McCann, Ava, Hailey, Wyatt and Silas Baker; Ella, Lily and Miles Olson, Maci and Dominic Ryan; and Lucas and Theodore Nelson. She is also survived by three sisters, Maylinda Reed, Barb Kopka, and Melissa Karger; five brothers, Gerald, Rick, Don, Patrick, and Tony Karger; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces.

She is reunited in Heaven with her son, Thomas Torgerson; her husbands, Michael Torgerson and Gary Baker; and a brother, Greg Karger.

She will be remembered for her unmatched love, strength, care for her family, and laughter. She continued to put others first, up to the very final moments of her life. The lessons that she taught her family during this process are invaluable, and she continues to bring people closer and give everyone strength, even after her body is no longer with us.

The family is eternally grateful to the tremendous people in Sandy's life who supported her during her battle with lung cancer. Thank you to the wonderful doctors and nurses that also helped her along the difficult journey.

Sandy was always about serving others, and she really wanted to get strong enough again to spend time volunteering at the local food shelf. Per this selfless intention, we ask that appreciation be shown through donations to the local Food Pantry (Pleasant Ave in Brooten) in lieu of flowers.