Fern Marie Baird 1910-2009

Blue Hill resident Fern M. (Jenny) Baird, 99, died Saturday, December 26, 2009, at Blue Hill Care Center in Blue Hill. Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2009, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Hill with Pastor Dan Cosson officiating. Private interment will be in Blue Hill Cemetery. Visitation is 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Merten-Butler Mortuary in Blue Hill. Memorials may be given to Blue Hill Community Foundation. Fern Marie (Jenny) Baird was born October 23,1910 to Rudolpoh G. and Marie (Gigax) Jenny on the family farm in rural Platte County near Leigh, Nebraska. She was baptized November 24, 1910 and confirmed April 13, 1924 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church near Leigh, Nebraska. She attended Platte County District 48 School and graduated from Leigh High School in 1927. On December 28, 1939 she married Ralph F. Baird of Omaha. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Dan, Ruth and James. They lived in Gorden and Hastings, Nebraska, before moving to Blue Hill in 1945. She was a legal secretary for her husband in the Baird Law office. Mrs. Baird was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Hill, St. Paul's Women of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and served as church organist for many years. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she loved music and was an avid gardener and sports enthusiast. She and her husband traveled extensively throughout the world and spent many winters living in Chandler, Arizona. Her husband died Sepptember 21, 1991. Mrs. Baird moved to Blue Hill Care Center in February 1992, following a disabling stroke. She was sustained throughout nearly 18 years in long term care by her unwavering faith, her loving family and many dear friends. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. Survivors include her daughter, Ruth (Jerry) Koepke of Blue Hill; her son Jim Baird of Clay Center, Nebraska; her daughter-in-law, Janice Baird also of Clay Center; three sisters Ruth Copley of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Eunice Beran of Schuyler, Nebraska and Mildred Metzger of Camano Island, Washington; seven grandchildren, Greg (Kay) Baird of Grand Island, NE, Susan (Loren) Griess of Sutton, NE, Jennifer (Wade) Fleischer of Glenvil, NE, Dave (Penny) Koepke of Scottsdale, AZ, John (Becky) Koepke of Tempe, AZ, Molly (Ben) Dilsaver of Lincoln, Ne, and James (Lisa) Baird of Golden Co.; 14 great grandchildren, Brett, Grant, Emily, Allison, Elizabeth, Katherine, Hannah, Daniel, Zachery, William, Vivienne, Matheson, Danielle and Kate; other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph; her son Dan; her daughter-in-law, Karen; her sister, Edna, and three brothers Arthur, Wilbur and Rudolph, Jr.