A Tribute to Vern and Esther Baker

03/20/2005

A Tribute to Vern and Esther Baker
Written by Jennie K. (Dahlman) Hanson
March 20, 2004

As a young person is growing up and getting an education there are many people who are important in their lives and leave a great impression on them.
Your parents, Vern and Esther Baker, were some of those wonderful people in my life.  They were not only the ones who provided me with a wonderful home experience while living with them during my college years, but they became my friends then and for all the years since I graduated and moved on with my life.
They were there at my wedding to Bob Hanson and also made several visits to my classroom in Wright on their way to Brainard to visit Ester’s brother.
As my family grew, we would often stop in to their home on Kenwood Ave for visits and renewing our friendship.  Esther would always have some homemade goodies to serve with coffee and we would have to tour the gardens if it was summer.
I will always be grateful for the things your parents taught me.  First of all, your mom taught me to make my bed, everyday, and keep my room clean. Of course I knew these things, but she made sure I did them.  Clean up a mess as soon as possible, or don’t make that mess in the first place.  I think that was her motto.  She would also do my laundry, which to a college student was really appreciated.  I know she did this so I wouldn’t misuse her washer and dryer, but it sure was nice of her to do it.  When I would come home from classes on Mondays, there would be my clean clothes piled on the steps for me to take up and put away.
In the late 1980’s when I was having my class collect a million pop tabs, Esther would faithfully collect them for me.  She would even pick them up off the street if she saw any of them.  Vern would get a little disgusted with her for this because he thought they had too dirty.  But that didn’t stop her.  She told him that Jennie needed them!  By the way, my class did collect 1,000, 000 tabs by 1989.  It only took us 2 1/2 years with the help of many people like Esther.
The thing I loved about your dad was that he would always have time for a visit or to help me with anything.  I remember that we would watch the Channel 10 News and then the weather with Jack McKenna.  I don’t think your dad ever missed the weather report.  I guess that was because of his love of gardening.  He taught me things about that, too.  I even have a Hawaiian orchid plant that he gave me years ago and it blooms every summer with the most beautiful red blossoms. I also have a stained glass piece he made hanging in my living room window.  These reminders of your parents bring joy to my heart whenever I see them.
I also remember those faces of men and women that hung on the dining room wall.  They always fascinated me also.  It seems like you could look at them forever and still not see everything about them.  I sure hope they stay in the family as a wonderful reminder of your parents.

One of the funniest things that happened when I was living with your parents was the night I was asked to join them and Philip for a spaghetti supper.
Your mom had worked all day making her special spaghetti sauce.  She kept it simmering all during the day so that the flavor would be just right.  Then, around 5 or 6 o’clock, we all sat around that small kitchen table to eat.  Everyone started to eat. Then we all slowed down eating.  There was something so unusual about the flavor of the sauce.  We looked back and forth at each other, but didn’t want to say anything to Esther because she had worked so hard to make such a good meal.  Finally, Philip got brave and yelled out, “ Mom, this tastes like “Top Job” (a floor cleaner)!” Esther looked up and couldn’t believe what she had done.  After browning the hamburger early in the morning for the sauce, she had poured some Top Job in the frying pan to help loosen the stuck on meat.  Later on in the day she had forgotten about the Top Job and poured the juice from the frying pan into the sauce.  I guess she thought the juice from the fried meat would enhance the flavor.  Well, it did the job, only now we had to throw out all the sauce and eat just plain spaghetti noodles for supper.  I don’t think we ever let her forget that “Special Sauce.”
Now that they have both died and are flying with the angels, I only have great memories of your parents.  I am so thankful that I had them for all these past years and will miss them a lot.  I want to thank you all for sharing them with my family and me.
Now may God Bless you at this difficult time and may God always keep them in our hearts.
I loved them very, very much. JKH