Janet & Wayne Baker Family

The NDSCS Foundation is pleased to announce the 2017 Family Tradition award to the Wayne & Janet Baker family. As you read below, their tradition of success is very evident. Welcome home Janet and family.

Wayne and Janet (Brand) were raised in Richland County and all six of their children are graduates of NDSSS (NDSCS) as well as four of their spouses. Wayne worked in the roofing and sheet metal business his entire life, Wayne passed away in December of 2004.  Janet was a stay-at-home mom nurturing six children and volunteering in the community. Janet became involved with NDSSS before any of her children even graduated high school by helping with fall registration.  During that time she made a pact to ensure that all of her children would attend the local college after high school and continue their education for two more years right next door to home. 

Brad, the Baker’s oldest and only son, graduated from NDSSS in 1980 with an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting and Estimating.  While attending college he met Kim Lenton a 1980 Computer Operator graduate.  She was accepted into the new Medical Record program that same year and graduated with an Associate Degree in Medical Records in 1982.  They married in 1982 and eventually founded Professional Roofing in Ketchum, ID.  Brad has served for several years on the board of directors for the Western States Roofing Association and this past year was the organization’s President. Kim works in the office as their Administrative Coordinator.  They have three daughters, Ashley (married, Chance Pehrson) Elissa and Kaylee and two granddaughters, Oakley and Tinley.

Beth (Lohman) graduated from Architectural Drafting and Estimating in 1981.  She met her husband Clint Lohman at NDSSS and they married in 1982.  Clint was a quarterback for the Wildcats football team from Glendive, MT.  He graduated from the Electronics program in 1981.  Both of them used their respective degrees in their early years of employment before buying and running their own company. Clint has been in the gaming business in Montana and a successive entrepreneur for the past thirty-five years and Beth has worked alongside him in operations at several of their businesses.  They sold their largest business, Rocky Mountain Gaming in 2016 and Clint operates as Manager for several of their remaining businesses.  They live in Bozeman, MT and have three children, Britney, Brock and Bridger.

Benae (Freeberg) received an Associate in Graphic Arts in 1983.  She is married to Mike Freeberg who is a self-employed agronomist. Benae works at Ultimate Transportation/Dakota Spas as a Financial Officer in Fargo, ND.  They live in Colfax, ND and have three children, Ashley (married, Nathan Renard), Brianne and Cole.  Cole is carrying on the Baker tradition and following his mother, aunts and uncle by attending NDSCS.  He is currently in his first year in the Diesel Mechanics program.

Caryn (Klosterman) and her husband Todd both attended NDSSS after graduating from Wahpeton High School.  Todd wrestled for the Wildcats in 1985 and 1986.  He graduated with an Associate Degree in Ag Business in 1986 and Caryn graduated with an Associate Degree in Word Processing Specialist and General Office the same year.  Caryn has worked for Essentia Health Wahpeton for 27 years  and is currently working in Hospital Admission Notifications for Fargo.  Todd farms with his brothers, Troy and Joe, in the southern Red River Valley near Mooreton, ND. The high school sweethearts married in 1991 and live in Mooreton, ND.  They have two daughters, Morgan and Whitney.  

Carla (Schumacher) was a 1987 NDSSS Graphic Arts Graduate.   She and her husband, Eraine, reside in Shakopee, MN.  Carla has worked as a parts inspector for both Finger Hut and Specialty Manufacturing Company since graduating from college.  Eraine is a retired Crane Operating Engineer and they have lived in Shakopee for 27 years.

Bonita (Kinnunen) is the youngest of the family and the last of the Baker kids to choose NDSSS for college.  She graduated in 1991 with an Associate’s Degree in Secretary Specialist.  She is currently employed at Radio FM in Fargo, ND.  Her husband, Scott Kinnunen, is also a North Dakota State School of Science alum from the class of 1996.  He graduated with an Auto Body associate Degree and is employed at Dakotaland Auto Glass in Fargo.  They reside in Hawley, MN.  

NDSSS has been a great educational fit for the Baker family!  Three of six kids still live in the greater Fargo area and use the great foundation that NDSSS provided to positively contribute to the community that gave them so much.  All six Baker children went on to have successful careers, with two starting and running their own profitable businesses.  While they have all acquired many other skills since graduating, they all attribute their success to the great start that NDSSS gave them.