From Becky Counts

From Darlene Sorstokke

 One of the most significant influences growing up was the little church we attended and which my parents helped to start.  Grace Baptist Church was “born” about the same time I was.  Pastor and Mrs. Wheeler came while I was still very young.  I remember Pastor Wheeler as being sweet and kind, and not above stooping down to talk to a small child.  By the time Pastor Baker and Virginia came, I was probably seven or eight.  Wes will remember those details better than me!  Pastor Baker’s oldest daughter Becky is two years older than me, and we became fast friends.  She was a wonderful pianist and would often accompany Wes singing during the service.  Marsha, two years young than me, rounded off the family.  Wes and I, and Mom as well, became close to the entire family.  Pastor Baker was not just our pastor, but our youth leader, choir director, and male adult role model friend.  Virginia was always warm and welcoming, opening her home to Becky and Marsha’s friends and the entire youth group.  Wes and I both took vacations with Bakers at different times, and he traveled with them to compete in Talents for Christ, in voice, along with Becky, who competed in piano.  I went camping with Bakers at least once, and it was often Pastor Baker who drove the old green “carryall” to Youth Rallies everywhere, with Wes and I tagging along.  

When I won the local Talents for Christ competition one year -- in Bible knowledge– I went back to compete for the finals.  After visiting with the cousins in Arkansas, I flew to Missouri to meet up with Bakers, who were visiting their relatives as well.  We all drove to Kansas City, Missouri.  Bakers took me under their wing and I stayed in the hotel room with their family.

Pastor Baker preached more than one sermon based on something one of us kids asked him.  He had a “question box” in which we could drop our inquiries.  I remember well him preaching a whole sermon on my “Why did God make spiders?”  Another time, he stopped in the middle of his sermon and said, “and Dar– there they ruminate”– because he had used in his sermon a word I’d asked him about.  At other times he would notice the whispering and passing of notes going on between Becky and me and put an end to it.  In the wintertime we kids preferred to sit at the back of the church– there was a three-foot transom where the heat came up!

I always wanted Pastor Baker to officiate at my wedding.  Because by then Dave and I had an Oregon church we were involved in, we agreed to have our Oregon pastor give the sermonette but have Pastor Baker do the vows.  He got a zillion points when, at the wedding rehearsal, he boldly announced “now if any of you have any problems with how things are done you talk to me and I’ll talk to Darlene”.  Apparently he had been at plenty of weddings with pushy people– not a problem at mine, but I appreciated his protectiveness anyway.

From Vickie Rothenbuhler

I always enjoyed visiting with your parents for I thought your dad had a great sense of humor and was always happy. I also remember going to your Dad's church on James St. I also enjoyed that.

Bakerisms

Dad had things that he used to say frequently. People have reminded me of some, while others I have remembered.  Not all were original to him, but he used them a lot and they added to his personality. If you remember something he said frequently that isn't in this list, mention it in a comment and I will add it.

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He that tooteth not his own horn remains in a state of untootedness.

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How are you treating the Lord?

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Oh for crying out loud!

Oh for crying in the bucket!

Oh for crying in the beard!

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An excuse is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.

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I want to get the lay of the land.

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"Following Jesus won't make your troubles go away.  In fact, following Jesus is when the trouble starts!"

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It is better to remain silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

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The opera isn't over until the fat lady sings.

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I can tell you this without fear of successful contradiction

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"Oh my achin' back!"

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The perfume Evening in Paris, Dad called it, "Night in the Stockyards"

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Oh my aching Petunia!

Family and Friends Gathering

Family and out of town friends met at Mom's apartment building in the social hall for pizza in the evening.

I could not resist posting this photo below. I found it today as I was sorting photos.

Reception

We don't have many reception photos yet. But here's few.

Becky, Wes Sorstokke and Marsha 

Wes came from Snoqualmie, WA to sing "Ship Ahoy".

Blayne Barnhart, Virginia Baker, Dick Philips & Marsha Iddings (standing)

Lily Counts

Joanna and Lily

Lily and Sabra

Family Lunch

The church provided lunch for the family after the graveside service.

Joshua Counts, Paul's boy.

Jenna, Lily and Sabra...Counts cousins.

Kristen Counts and Joshua

Sabra and Lily

Pastor Kris and Tim Counts

Jerry, and Uncle Gene Baker. Jerry is Gene's friend who drove him out from Iowa.

Marsha Iddings, Virginia Baker and family friend "Uncle" Blayne Barnhart

Rick Iddings, Sarah Iddings and Nathaniel Iddings (Marsha's family)

Holly and David Counts and Tim Counts

Pastor Kris and Dan Counts

Joanna, Lily and Paul Counts

Paul and Kristen and Joshua

Lucas, Jenna, Jon and Sabra

Memorial Service

The service was a wonderful time uplifting music (Dad's favorites), worship of God and remembering Dad. The Gospel was clearly preached by Tim Counts, using some sources written by Dad. 

Jenna and Sabra were our guest book hostesses.

Marsha & Jonathan enjoy some conversation with Uncle Gene, Dad's brother who traveled out from Iowa.  His friend Jerry pictured above drove him out to attend the memorial.

Memorial display.

Becky played the piano like her life depended upon it. 

Front of the church.

Prayer

Jon, Holly, David and Tim sang "And Can It Be?"

Wes Sorstokke sang one of Dad's favorite songs, "Ship Ahoy"

Dan led the congregation in "Blessed Assurance", "Satisfied" and "Alone in Christ"

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Sonya shared some memories.

Tim Neufeld shared memories.

Don Dibble shared his memories.

Others also shared memories that are not pictured.

Tim gave the message titled, "From Life's First Cry to Final Breath, Jesus Commands My Destiny"  using some of Dad's own writings, and selected Scriptures from Romans 8. It was an extremely clear presentation of the Gospel. Dad would have wanted it that way. 

Everything about the service would have been exactly what Dad would have wanted.