Mark Baker

With heavy hearts and many wonderful memories, we announce the passing of our precious husband, father, grandfather, and great friend, Dr. Mark Ensio Baker. Dr. Baker passed away unexpectedly on September 14th, 2026, in a tragic accident when the car he was driving collided head-on in the dark with an elk standing on Interstate 15, between the Utah and Idaho borders. He was 66 years old.

Mark always said when it was his time to go, he wanted to "go out in a blaze of glory." He was a man who held a deep reverence and love of wildlife, especially elk, so he would have wanted to go out of this world alongside an elk. In the ancient mythology of his native Finland, the elk is a deeply spiritual creature—a sacred totem of the forest that symbolizes strength, endurance, and a connection to the natural world. Mark is this as well, a man of strength, endurance, and connection to wildlife and its beauty. For a man who found his greatest peace in the wild, there is a beautiful, full-circle meaning to him leaving this earthly life along with his “last elk.”

Mark was born Markku Ensio Niemenaho in Pietarsaari, Finland (also known as Jakobstad) on June 9th, 1960, to Valde Armas Niemiaho and Tuovi Marketta Nieminen. His sister Virpi (Vicki) was born just 15 months after him. Shortly after both children were born, Tuovi and Valde divorced. Mark grew up never knowing his father. Missionaries had taught Tuovi the gospel. She then made the courageous decision to immigrate to America giving her children a better future. Following a bitter two-year custody battle, Tuovi, armed with a miraculous visa that finally appeared in the mail, faced fierce opposition from her family—who warned her with an old Finnish proverb that in running from a wolf, she might just find a bear instead. Tuovi was undeterred. Their immigration to America was an adventure all its own, as the elements themselves conspired against them. The morning of their departure brought severe storms and two very sick children, perhaps from spending a little too much time in the sauna the night before. Taking a cab and then a train to Helsinki, a young Mark famously “tossed his cookies” right in the railroad station, earning a fierce glare from the conductor! After a delayed arrival by their missionaries and a reassuring Priesthood blessing, they caught the very last bus to the airport. Following an unscheduled landing in Iceland due to severe weather and plane troubles, they passed through Ellis Island and finally arrived in Salt Lake City on August 25, 1966. They were sponsored by dear friends, Ralph and Nina Morris.

He spent his formative years in Utah, Colorado, and California, watching his mother work tirelessly—even walking an hour each way to her job—to build a life for her children in a new country. Her profound sacrifice and courage deeply impacted him, instilling a fierce work ethic, a drive for excellence that saw him earn his Eagle Scout award just after his thirteenth birthday, and a lifelong desire to care for others. At age 19, his deep faith led him to serve a two-year mission to the Netherlands. A few years later, at age 22, Mark decided to change his last name to Baker, adopting the surname of his mother’s husband at the time, Kenneth Baker. With his trademark practicality and warm sense of humor, Mark figured "Baker" sounded a bit more American and would certainly be much easier for his friends to pronounce than Niemenaho.

Following his mission, he returned to study at BYU, where he met and married Carolyn Richards (later divorced). He went on to graduate with high honors from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry before completing an additional four years of medical surgery residency in the specialty of oral surgery as Chief Resident at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis.

Eventually establishing his own oral surgery practice in Pocatello, Idaho, he became a pillar in the community. In a remarkable twist of fate, Pocatello was the hometown of Melbourne Stocks—the very missionary who had taught and baptized his mother back in Finland, and whose only convert during his entire mission had been Tuovi. It was in this same town that Mark would build his practice, Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho, and later have the distinct honor of caring for his beloved mother in her final years.

He was a skilled surgeon known for his signature camouflaged scrubs—a nod to his love for wildlife. Deeply loved and appreciated by his numerous patients, Mark always strove to provide the absolute best care. He genuinely loved his office staff and went to great lengths to take care of them. Mark wasn’t consumed by materialistic things; he found real joy in serving others. Because of his abiding love for humanity and his commitment to his community, Mark never shied away from worthy causes and always followed his unwavering personal ethical compass. Locally, he founded and spearheaded the Second Chance Program, which awarded a Pocatello resident with a $50,000 complete smile restoration, completely free to the patient. His leadership and expertise were so highly regarded that he served as Chief of Surgery for both Bannock and Pocatello Regional Medical Centers, and was honored as a Fellow of the prestigious Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Mark’s healing hands reached far beyond his own practice. Locally, he spent over thirty years as a dedicated member of the Southeast Idaho Cleft Lip and Palate Team. Globally, he partnered with Ascend Alliance and served on the board of Idaho Condor, passionately dedicating his time and talents to care for the poorest of the poor. He completed multiple humanitarian missions throughout all of Peru, providing life-changing surgical care to indigenous families. On these international medical missions, Mark was accompanied by his children (both his and Mitzi’s), his staff, and his wife Mitzi.

His service extended into every facet of his life. As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mark lived what he believed. He was a deeply spiritual person, and the gospel of Jesus Christ was woven into his heart, the very nature of his being, and every area of his life. Throughout his lifetime, he served in many positions, including bishoprics, the high council, and young men’s presidencies, and he was a dedicated home teacher who rarely missed an assignment. His civic contributions were equally profound: state-wide, he was vitally instrumental in working with the Idaho State Legislature to change Idaho’s laws protecting children from sexual abuse, and locally, he volunteered his time to serve as the Chairman of the Pocatello Pioneer Day celebration for two years.

Throughout 30 years he coached hundreds of Pocatello boys in various sports, including soccer, baseball, and football. He and Richard Livermore did a lot of coaching together, as many as 15-20 teams. They made a lethal team. Their kids were disciplined. The opposing team was always out-coached. Because he wanted all the boys in Pocatello to have access to baseball practice facilities, he went so far as to secretly purchase the Sandlot, an indoor space for the community youth to practice baseball! He did this without anyone knowing, including his own children.

Mark was full throttle in the Scouting program, spending 20 years involved with mentoring youth. He was dedicated to introducing the youth to the outdoors and wildlife. He would take the boys out camping every single month, all year long, even in winter with knee-deep snow! He worked with all ages of the Boy Scouts from Cub Scouts to the Venture Scout program and everything in between. When it came time for the Arrow of Light Ceremony everybody wanted Mark to perform theirs. He would come dressed in full Indian attire from the headdress to the moccasins. Mark ran the 7th Ward Pinewood Derby for many years with his own 8-lane electronic track. He also ran the council-wide runoff races, which included all of Southeast Idaho and Western Wyoming.

The High Adventure activity was notorious for the youth; the act of taking the youth on a 50-mile hike became known as the "Mark Baker Death March." During one High Adventure Activity, he was thrown from a horse and broke three ribs. If there was a youth activity, Mark was in it. He volunteered even if he didn’t have a formal assignment. He was quick and eager to donate anything—the vehicles, camping equipment, time etc. “It didn’t matter if you ever needed anything, talk with Mark and he would get it done!” Because of his medical background and rugged nature, he never got rattled in a crisis. Over the years, he calmly stitched up many people on the family kitchen counter, a picnic table, or inside a tent; wherever it was needed.

Mark's true specialty was bringing laughter to life. He never took himself or others too seriously. A genuine jokester and prankster at heart, he loved to have fun, share laughs, and pull pranks on others. He loved water fights and was known for the biggest water fights ever. Nobody wanted to be on his opposing team, as they would inevitably spiral out of control every time! Mark was also an excellent photographer, often seen with a camera around his neck, and he even won awards at the Blackfoot fair for his artistry. He was a dedicated BYU football fan, an avid hunter, and a masterful storyteller with a lighthearted joy that drew people to him. In fact, the punchline is that he went out with an elk!

Mark found extreme personal happiness when God brought him his best friend, his sweetheart, and the love of his life, Mitzi Hermansen. Mark and Mitzi were a perfect match for each other. Married for the last seven and a half of their ten years together, they shared a rare and deep bond filled with kindness, laughter, mutual support, and deep commitment. Mark was fiercely devoted to Mitzi. Friends and members of the community frequently commented to Mark that he became a changed man once Mitzi had come into his life. They said it was fun to see him after having known him for decades, they watched him blossom. Finally, he was happy.

Mark loved being a father, the adventure, laughter, traditions, sports, coaching, scouting, hunting, travel, BYU games, and lots of pictures. Through his marriage to Mitzi, Mark joyfully gained three more children, loving and embracing them as his own. To Mark, fatherhood was a lifelong bond. He held a deep, unwavering love for his children and was enormously proud of the people they became, bragging about them whenever he got the chance. 

Mark left the world a better, brighter place. He lived a big life to the fullest, and while he will be deeply missed by his wife, children, and all who knew him, his family takes comfort in knowing he is in the loving arms of his Heavenly Father, joyfully reunited with his beloved baby daughter, Suzy, who died tragically at 18 months.

He is survived by his wife, Mitzi Hermansen; his nine surviving biological children: Julie Hansen (Rob), Mark Baker II (Alisha), Lisa Baker, Paul Baker (Kathleen), Sylvi Lane (Kyle), David Baker, Lindsey Baker, Scott Baker, and Natalie Baker; and the children he gained through marriage to Mitzi: Brenda Barrow (Sirel) Mcrae, Jorden Barrow (Tate), and Celeste Barrow. He had 11 biological grandchildren and 6 grandchildren gained through marriage. He is also survived by his sister, Vicki; and his half-sister, Sonja.

He was preceded in death by his father Valde Armas, his half-brother Dan, his 18-month-old daughter Suzy, and his mother Tuovi Marketta.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 12146 West Tyhee Road, Pocatello, ID 83202. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Road in Chubbuck, Idaho, and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to services at the church on Friday. Interment will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in the Orem City Cemetery.