Cleo Baker

Cleo C. Baker, 84, passed away on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND, surrounded by family.

Cleo Caroline was born on March 6, 1941, at the White Earth Hospital, the second child of Leonard “Bud” and Irene “Diz” (Nester) Spry. Cleo’s father taught her how to yodel at a very young age. Her siblings recall listening to Cleo yodel, and rock back and forth at night. This is how everyone in the house fell asleep. As a young adult she often sang and yodeled at family gatherings and out at Joe’s on Buffalo Lake. Everyone enjoyed listening to Cleo sing and yodel.

She attended Callaway Elementary School until 9th grade when she went to Mount St. Benedict at Crookston, MN, where she graduated in 1958. After graduation, Cleo and her best friend Donna DuChene, moved to Fargo, ND where they worked at American Linen. On the weekends, Cleo and Donna loved to dress up and dance the night away at the Crystal Ballroom.

On October 27, 1962, Cleo was united in marriage to Lowell Merritt Baker at Assumption Catholic Church in Callaway, MN. During their first married years they lived in Moorhead and in Detroit Lakes. Lowell worked as a ceramic tile setter while Cleo worked at the Post Office in Detroit Lakes.

In 1967, they moved back to Callaway and purchased a home from Dick and Marna Bellefeuille. During this time, they also owned and operated Baker’s Café and the laundromat in town. Cleo retired as Postmaster of the Callaway Post Office after 27 years of total service.

Cleo’s retirement years allowed for more time to travel with her sisters, play cards, go to the casino, read books, and attend her Grandchildren’s activities. Together Lowell and Cleo enjoyed retirement until his passing on January 8, 2019. Cleo remained in Callaway for a few years before moving to White Earth Lake to live with her daughter and son in law where she enjoyed lake life, time with her Great Grandchildren, and visits with family and friends that would stop by.

Cleo was a member of Assumption Catholic Church where she received the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony. She was a member of St. Theresa Circle, and Christian Mothers.

Cleo will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Shannon (Brian) Donner of Ogema, son Troy (Nancy) Baker of Callaway, daughter Shelley Bunnell of Waubun; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren; brothers Jerry (Shirley) Spry of Callaway, Doug (Tamara) Spry of Fargo, Don (Colleen) Spry of Callaway, Tom (Patti) Spry of Detroit Lakes, Wayne (Patty) Spry of Callaway; sisters Judy Dwinell of Detroit Lakes, Barb (Mike) Brown of Detroit Lakes, and Janet (Mike) Krengel of Dawsonville, GA; sister in law Wendy Spry of Detroit Lakes, and brother and sister in law Damian (Carol) Zurn of Detroit Lakes, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Lowell, parents Leonard and Irene Spry, sister Karen (Reba) Spry, brother Lawrence (Larry) Spry, brother-in-law Richard (Dick) Dwinell, granddaughter Shauna Donner, in-laws Merritt and Vienna Baker.