Margaret Rose Baker

M argaret Rose Baker of Sutherland, Nebraska, died at Great Plains Health on Thursday, December 31, 2020, due to complications related to COVID-19. She was 73 years old.

Margaret Rose was born March 28, 1947, to Gale and Ellen (Pierce) Morgan at Sutherland. She grew up on a ranch north of Sutherland and attended country school graduating from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture class of 1965.

At the age of 14 she started working at the Sutherland Hospital and the experience led her to a career in nursing. Margaret Rose earned her LPN and her RN degrees which expanded her medical career. She continued employment with Great Plains Regional Medical Center, Red Cross Blood Mobile, Red Cross Disaster Team, Sutherland Nursing Home and Richard Young Hospital, as well as, volunteering for various organizations and boards.

Margaret Rose and Gene were united in marriage in Imperial on December 28, 1973. The couple moved to a farm outside of Sutherland and raised two children. Gene and Margaret Rose purchased and operated the Longhorn Bar for several years, retiring in Sutherland.

Margaret Rose was a very social and loving person. She was a gracious host and her door was always open to family and friends. She loved spending time at the family ranch enjoying the peacefulness and making memories socializing, fishing and observing the abundance of wild life. She also enjoyed traveling with her sister and close friends. She attended an eclipse in Australia, as well as, hosting the 2017 Eclipse Party at the ranch.

Survivors include her husband, Gene, and daughter, Mindy Rose Kerner, both of Sutherland; son, Larry (Heather) Baker, of Hastings; grandchildren, Alec, Morgan and Brooke Baker, of Hastings and Cole, Cooper, Rylee Rose and Piper Kerner of Sutherland; sister, Marjorie Morgan, of Wisconsin; and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 2021, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. For those unable to attend, services will be recorded and posted to odeanchapel.com. Visitation will be Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the family for future designation towards a nursing scholarship fund.