Saralee Bakker

Hills, MN Saralee Ranae Bakker, age 57 of Hills, MN died Saturday August 31, 2013 at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN. Private family services will be at a later date. Saralee Ranae Bakker was born November 21, 1955 in Minnesota, the daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Van Maanen) Bakker. She was raised in Hills, MN where she attended school in Hills and graduated from Luverne High School. She continued her education at a Minnesota Tech School in Willmar, MN. In 1977 she married Peter Baartman in Steen, MN; they remained united in marriage until 1984. She lived in Luverne and worked as a cook at Blue Mound Inn and Oreys Caf in Luverne. In 1984 she remarried Gary Meinders in Luverne, MN; they remained united in marriage until 1988. She worked at Ellison Meat Company in Pipestone before working at Feys in Edgerton, MN. In 2000 she relocated to Worthington, MN and worked at a local bookstore. She remained in Worthington until 2011 when she returned to Hills, MN. She was a member of the Steen Reformed Church. She enjoyed crocheting, cooking, baking, painting ceramics, collecting figurines, coins, sports memorabilia, and watching Law and Order. She also enjoyed playing bingo, having coffee at Hardees and spending time with her family. She is survived by her daughter, Monica (Solomon) Derby of Pipestone, MN; four grandchildren; Jacob, Lorissa, Solomon and Sky and a sister, Marla (Dave) Irvine of Brandon, SD; and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Margaret Bakker; and a son, Shawn Baartman.