Juanita Lois Baird

July 31, 1923 - January 9, 2019

Juanita Lois Baird, age 95, of Wibaux, Montana, passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at the Wibaux County Nursing Home in Wibaux. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service is planned for early spring. Silha Funeral Home of Wibaux has been entrusted with the arrangements. Juanita was born on July 31, 1923 in Beach, North Dakota to Edward and Blanche (Still) Watkins of rural Wibaux. She joined siblings Naoma, Elda and Loren. Juanita was educated in the one room country Baird School. She graduated from Wibaux County High School with the class of 1941. Juanita was united in marriage to Edwin Baird (whom she met in grade school), the love of her life, on September 14, 1941. They started their life together in a little house on the prairie northeast of Wibaux. They lived in Wibaux County the rest of their lives. She and Les were married fifty-two years before his passing in 1993. In 2009, Juanita moved to the Golden Valley Manor and then in 2016 to the Wibaux County Nursing Home, where she resided until her passing. Juanita loved to play the piano, by ear, and once she heard a piece of music she could play it. She loved to call her friends and neighbors on their birthday and play a song for them. Many times, she would fall asleep at the keyboard and play without missing a note. Juanita dearly loved her Lord and her life was committed to spreading the word of God. She was such an influence for her grandchildren and they remember all the Bible stories she told. Juanita was a Sunday school teacher for much of her life and at one time she wrote a column for the Wibaux Pioneer Gazette. Juanita loved to garden and despite 100 degree plus temperatures outside, she would fire up the cook stove and can vegetable all day. That made the house almost unbearable. She would pick chokecherries in the fall and make tons of syrup for her sourdough pancakes. She wasn’t above hiding dirty dishes in the oven or pantry, or herself if the person knocking on the door was someone she didn’t want to see. Juanita is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Blanche Watkins; her husband, Les Baird; a grandson, Jebedia Frye and two infant grandchildren; two sisters, Naoma Darton and Elda Grantier; a brother, Loren Watkins; nephews, Mike Watkins and Charles Baird. Juanita is survived by her daughters, Linda (Allan) Hutchins and Elaine (Steve) Bruce of Wibaux; seven grandchildren, Todd (Laurie) Koch, Leslie Lynne Koch, Eric Collins, Weslie (Julie) Turner, Jason (Gena) Turner, Farron Frye and Juanita (John) Bryant, twelve great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; three nephews, Wayne Baird, Lynn Darton, Gary Watkins; four nieces, Diane Stroncak, Bonnie Wicka, Roberta Allerdings and Jonny Victor. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.