Dorothy Barker

Dorothy Barker was born to Lynn Spence Barker and Vera Valeria Andrus on December 30 1948. She was the youngest of four children: Spence Andrus Barker (Ruth George), Valeria Barker Saunders (Dell Saunders), Annette Barker Olsen (Ralph Olsen) and Dorothy Barker.

She grew up in Shelley, Idaho attending all the lower grades in the Shelley Public School System. In 8th grade she won first place in the school science fair with a project about photography. She played the saxophone in the school band for six years through junior high and high school. In 1967 she was awarded Miss Scholarship and graduated as Valedictorian having a 4.00 point GPA.

She then attended Ricks College in Rexburg, ID. She was a member of the Valkyrie Service Club and served as Historian of the Associated Women Students. In l969 She graduated magna cum laude from Ricks College with a two-year Associate of Science degree.

Next, she attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. In 1971 Dorothy graduated magna cum laude from BYU with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

After graduation from college Dorothy became employed at Firth School District where she enjoyed teaching 3rd grade for nine years.

She, then, served an eighteen month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Michigan Dearborn Mission.

Upon arriving home from her mission she became employed at the Church Office Building for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and worked there for twenty-one years in three different departments.

In 2008 Dorothy moved home to Shelley, ID to help care for her parents who were in their mid 90’s. She was there five years until both her parents passed away. Dorothy’s health declined over the years because of ongoing health challenges. She moved to Cove Point Retirement Community, in Provo, UT in 2013.

Dorothy was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and lived a life of service. She taught Spiritual Living in Relief Society for several years and served as ward organist. She enjoyed genealogy research and temple work, attending the temple once a week. She served as a guide on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. She also had the opportunity to appear in three TC Christensen movies, “Only A Stonecutter”, “Seventeen Miracles” and “Ephraim’s Rescue”. She enjoyed playing the piano, traveling and sewing her own clothes.

Dorothy loved her family and was devoted to strengthening ties with her parents, siblings, many nieces and nephews and extended family. Her life was lived as a testimony of love, service, and faith in Jesus Christ, the resurrection and eternal families.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 23, 2025 at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak Street, Shelley. The family will receive friends Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. till 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Ucon Cemetery.

Those who would like to participate in the funeral service remotely are invited to view the service on a live broadcast on Nalder Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

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