Events
Viewing
Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary 1950 E Dimple Dell Rd. (10600 So) Sandy, UtahSunday Jan 19, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Viewing
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2195 E. Pepperwood Dr, Sandy, UtahMonday Jan 20, 2025 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Funeral Service
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2195 E. Pepperwood Dr, Sandy, UtahMonday Jan 20, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Interment
Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery 1950 E Dimple Dell Rd. (10600 So) Sandy, UtahMonday Jan 20, 2025 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Owen Nelson Baker was born on December 23, 1935, in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the middle of the Great Depression. He was a middle child: Louise, Nelson, and Bill, known in childhood as Weezie, Sonny, and Wiggy. Twins Howard and Helene joined the family ten years later. The family was poor. He ate lots of oatmeal, and learned to make raisin pies after school. His grandfather taught him to catch trout with his hands in Mill Creek.
Nelson served in the Brazil Mission from January 1956 to December 1958, traveling by train to New York and then by boat to Brazil; a month’s journey. His three-year mission experience was the most formative of his life, and endowed him with a love for Brazil and its people.
Nelson married Lucille Bawden, his companion of 62 years, on April 5, 1962, in the Salt Lake Temple. As he said in his memoir, “Within a month after returning home as a missionary, I saw in a vision my wife, and married her three years later. We deeply love and appreciate each other. She has been a wonderful companion. There has been a continual affirmation that we are a companionship for eternity.”
Nelson worked grueling mining and railroad jobs at Kennecott to fund his mission. He left the funds with his father, who quietly paid for Nelson’s mission from his own scant funds. Nelson returned to his entire Kennecott savings, which he used to attend college.
Nelson studied English and attended law school at the University of Utah, graduating second in his law class in 1963. He completed a masters of law program at New York University, where he and Lucille lived in Greenwich Village, and the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on a Fulbright scholarship.
Returning to the United States, he began his legal career at Johnson & Johnson in 1965, moving his young family to a duplex on Oak Road in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
As a member of the high council in 1970, he was assigned to be building superintendent of the new stake center, funded by church members and built with church member labor. He contributed more than 300 volunteer hours building the stake center.
In 1970, Nelson and Lucille contracted to build a house on Boston Post Rd in East Brunswick, NJ, contributing many nights of sweat equity in the form of finished carpentry and painting. In 1971 they moved in. In 1972 they moved out. Nelson had been called to preside over the fourth mission in Brazil, the Brazil South Central Mission, later named the Brazil Sao Paulo South Mission. During this second three-year mission to Brazil, Nelson bonded with hundreds of missionaries. They were still enjoying mission reunions with him and Lucille as recently as 2024.
Nelson devoted his energies to service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including 31 years of consecutive leadership as a bishopric counselor, bishop, mission president, stake presidency counselor, and stake president. He was active in scouting, and attended every one of his sons’ summer camps. Beyond his Church and religion, he was also deeply spiritual: “To me, God always has been real: a loving presence. Prayer was real because God was real. I always believed he was there, and shared my prayer. I can think of no beginning to this. It always has been my reality.” He has shared this reality with every member of his numerous posterity.
Nelson was an international corporate attorney for Johnson & Johnson for 33 years, from 1965 to 1998. He travelled throughout South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Great Britain, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, creating and advising affiliate companies. Once he was even contacted by the CIA to help intercept a shipment of pharmaceuticals to a terrorist nation.
Retirement gave Nelson the time to synthesize his decades of thought and research about his Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ, culminating in his published book, The Process of Atonement.
His greatest pleasure was being with his family, including at annual week-long reunions.
He is beloved in his Sandy ward for his service to neighbors and his insightful gospel comments.
Nelson is survived by his wife Lucille (Bawden) Baker, brothers William (Sherry) Baker and Howard (Diane) Formisano, sister Helene (Bruce) Byington, children Roger, Megan, Carolyn (Mike), Jeanette (Craig), and Steven (Megan). He is preceded in death by his sister Louise Kemp and daughter Sarah Jane Baker Scott.
A viewing will be held Sunday, January 19 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Larkin Sunset Garden Mortuary (1950 E. Dimple Dell Rd, Sandy, Utah) and Monday, January 20 from 9:30-10:45 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2195 E. Pepperwood Dr., Sandy, Utah). Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM followed by the interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery (1950 E. Dimple Dell Rd, Sandy, Utah).
To view a recording of the service via zoom, please click on the tab above that says "Watch Service" or follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/jWEVJUugGDEqjQ0O5ZX9zI77HT_cnIcu0zWxHX0iMSPBI3syYYbHwzcGfBuGZSuS.VeFkRGMjclZtRjmF?startTime=1737394512000
Video
Guestbook/Condolences
President Baker was my first and best Home Teacher. Because of him, Lucille, and his wonderful family opening their home and hearts I felt the Savior's love when I was a new convert. He was like a father to me, and his wonderful presence in my life was healing. When he knew I had insomnia, he gifted me a Teddy Bear that he chose with the help of a little child, so sweet! He volunteered his legal skills when I needed them, talk about the Law of Consecration! He was my hero! Once in the depths of despair, while I lay on the sofa with my back to the world, he was inspired to call me and it made all the difference.
I can only imagine your loss and heartache since you had the privilege of having him as a Patriarch of your family. I can only imagine how you must feel with such an absence of his loving presence. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I will never forget President Baker and your loving family. There is no doubt about where he is now, Spirit Paradise, reunited with his Savior, Father in Heaven and Sarah.
In the early 1980s, my husband was in a PhD program at Rutgers, and we had two young sons. Nelson and Lucille invited us to their house for Thanksgiving. When my husband was hit by a car on campus, Nelson called and suggested that he’d like to write a letter to our insurance company which resulted in a $7000 settlement that helped us make a down payment on our first house. Nelson and Lucille also loaned us a car when our car broke down. Nelson was a sober humanitarian who loved people and was willing to get involved with their joys, sorrows, and concerns.
Thank you President Baker for making my mission a more spiritual experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. You were a spiritual giant in my eyes and taught me a lot about repentance and forgiveness. I still remember my final interview at the airport as I rushed to catch my flight home. It will be great to see you again.
Wow, what a life Owen led, and so lovingly remembered in this obituary. Peace be unto you, Mr. Baker.
I love President Nelson Baker, his influence in my life continues to this day, 50 years after he was my priesthood leader. I will forever be greatful to him and Lucille.
Nelson Baker has been my continual Mission President for 52 years. I have attended the annual reunions at his home in Sandy for the past several decades. He has continued to lead me and his other missionaries through a lifetime of Church Service including many who have served as Mission Presidents trying to follow his excellent example. We look forward to meeting him again in heaven.
President Baker became my mission president in the Brazil South Central Mission when I had been on my mission for one year. The mission was transformed by his loving leadership and example. He was committed to growing the Kingdom in Brazil through increased member activity and strengthening testimonies, as well as through baptizing new members.
I had been transferred several times by this time, learning about each transfer, being informed each time by local mission leaders or via a phone call. One evening in Mauá, President Baker came personally to our apartment to tell me I was being transferred to São Caetano and telling me he was confident I'd serve as a great district leader. I was impressed that he knew about me and that he cared about me.
He came with us when my companion and I went to bless a sick woman who was not a member of the Church. I was about to routinely lay my hands on her head when President Baker stopped me, and explained to her about how early apostles and disciples and been called upon to bless the sick because they held the Priesthood or authority to act in God's name. He explained that we held the same that same Priesthood. He told the woman that we needed to prepare to give her a blessing and asked if we could use a separate room to kneel down and pray. President Baker was the voice in that kneeling prayer, and he taught me how to prepare to use the Priesthood. We then returned and gave the blessing. I always remembered this lesson and used it throughout my life.
As I was nearing the end of my mission, President Baker scheduled an interview with me and asked what I had planned when I returned home. I told him I was accepted into the BYU MBA program that would begin in September. My original mission call was delayed, so that my release would get to Provo 3 weeks late. I was confident I could catch up on the work I'd miss. President Baker was familiar with the level of graduate work and thoughtfully told me he'd see what he could do to help be successful at BYU. A couple of weeks later, he told me he'd contacted Elder Gordon B. Hinkley in the Missionary Department and who moved my release date earlier so I could start my MBA studies on time. I soon learned how rigorous the program was and realized that President Baker cared about my success in life and not just as a missionary in his mission.
My life was blessed by President Baker - his leadership and example.
Sister Baker and family. Sorry to hear about the passing of President Baker. However as you all know this is just a natural part of our earthly experience. However it still brings us sadness that will decrease as time goes by but never truly disappears. I truly enjoyed my experience of serving in the mission office and working with President Baker on an almost daily basis. Sister Baker I also truly enjoyed serving with you and serving at times as the unofficial chauffer and in other things. My best wishes to each of you as you move forward in life.
To Sister Baker and family. My time in Brazil and the great example of President Baker and all of you helped set me on a lifetime of serving the Lord and loving others. I am sorry for your great loss of Nelson and pray for your peace in the days ahead.
Dear Baker Family,
We send our love to you in celebration of a man whom we deeply respect and admire. His leadership set the tone for our experience in East Brunswick. We loved any interaction with the Baker Family and were especially grateful to get to know Jeanette and Sarah. What a treasured legacy your family carries.
We are sorry that we did not learn of President Baker’s passing until after the services. Please accept our love and sympathy.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time. Nelson was a great man and friend to all. I couldn't attend the funeral, but watched the services online. What a beautiful tribute to Nelson.
Dear Family,
I send my deepest love and compassion for the loss of Nelson. He was and is a beautiful soul who I remember being a loving support to our family growing up. He and Uncle Bill took my sister and me to the Daddy Daughter dates at church. It was such a sweet gesture and they were so fun to be around!
Nelson and I corresponded for many months via email. And, he sent me a copy of his book and the history of the Baker family. He was such a loving brother to my mom Louise and a fabulous Uncle to us. What a gift it is to be able to share the service with you from this site. I appreciate all of your sweet stories and memories of your Dad. I also remember the family picnics up the canyon and the hikes we took together. We will have our lovely memories until we all meet again. Much love and hugs to all of you. Robin Wilcox, California