Harry Daniel Baer

Harry Daniel Baer, 81, died Saturday morning, Sept. 30, 2017 in St. George, UT. He was born July 30, 1936 in Seattle, Washington to Harry and Dorothy Baer. Dan married Evelyn Smith on August 7, 1959 and they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls, Idaho temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Dan “Danny” Baer spent most of his adolescence running around the Coleman Fish Hatchery in Anderson, California where his dad was the general manager. Hunting and fishing were standard daily activities, which gave Dan much of his early love for nature and all of God’s creations. He attended Anderson High School, graduating in 1954 as president of his senior class. Dan started his college career at Shasta College and then to Chico State University where he focused his studies on Geology. He then transferred to Brigham Young University, where he finished his degree and met Evelyn. After graduation and their marriage in the summer of 1959, they moved to San Jose, California where Dan earned his secondary education teaching credential at San Jose State University and began teaching at Marian A. Peterson High School. He would later earn his Master’s degree in Biology from San Jose State University.

Dan worked as a high school science teacher at Peterson High from 1961 until 1982. It was during this time that he wrote a grant to the State of California that resulted in the building of the one-acre nature area at Peterson and the beginning of the Montebello Ridge program, an alternative section of courses that focused students on natural California history, including several annual river and camping trips along the Pacific coast, Sacramento River and Lassen National Park. Hundreds of student’s lives were changed and inspired through this program, whose members are affectionately known to this day as the “Ridge Rats”. Dan ended his teaching career at Wilcox High in 1991.

Dan was baptized a member of the LDS church September 6, 1958 and served in many leadership callings over the years including Bishopric member, High Councilor, Camp Lehi Director, and Bishop of the Cottonwood ward in Anderson, California during his retirement. But his most favorite callings were always serving with the youth and with the youngsters in Primary. Whether at work or church he always loved being with the youth and helping them see what was possible for them.

Dan and Evelyn retired to his old stomping grounds in Cottonwood, California in 1991, where they enjoyed life on a small 25-acre gentleman’s farm. During retirement, Dan and Evelyn served 2 separate missions, one to Dublin, Ireland and another to Salt Lake City, Utah doing family history work. In 2006, they served an LDS assignment in Qingdao, China teaching English at the university. This past December, they moved to St. George, Utah to be closer to family.

Dan is survived by his sweet companion of 58 years: Evelyn; children and spouses: Douglas and Luz Baer, and Bruce and Lori Baer of St. George, UT; and Ken and Irene Shaw of Muscatine, IA; 19 grandchildren and 4 grandsons as well as many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents: Harry and Dorothy Baer and his sister Dorothy Marie “Cubby” Black.

Services will be held Monday, October 9, 2017 at 11:00 am at the Boulder Ridge Stake Center on 1762 S. River Road in St. George, UT. There will be no visitation, and internment will be held at a later date still to be determined.