Miriam Elaine Baer

Miriam Elaine Baer, 83, of Riley, Kan., died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at Medicalodge of Clay Center, in Clay Center, Kan.

She was born Feb. 11, 1926, in Otis, Colo., the daughter of Lorenz and Miriam (Lewis) Pfeffer. Elaine and her husband Raymond owned and operated Baer Gas & Electric, in Riley, Kan., for 40 years, retiring in 1998. She was a member of the Riley United Methodist Church, the Rebekah Lodge, the Riley Neighborhood Club and the Riley Country High School Booster Club.

She married Raymond C. Baer on Feb. 14, 1944, and he preceded her in death on July 18, 1993. She was also preceded in death by her parents; twin daughters, Evelyn Ann and Ellen Jan Baer; and two sisters, Uteva Powers, and Delora Dallinga.

She is survived by four sons, Larry Baer and wife Vicki, of Topeka, Kan., Robert Baer and wife Connie, of Topeka, Kan., Jerry Baer and wife Rhonda, of Riley, Kan., and Dwight Baer and wife Roxie, of Clay Center, Kan.; one daughter, Sheryl Baer, of Nevada; two brothers, Lewis Pfeffer, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., and Ivan Pfeffer, of Bakersfield, Calif.; one sister, Sarah Simmons, of Hemet, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., today, at Riley United Methodist Church, in Riley, Kan., with the Rev. Bill Eisele officiating. Respect calls were made Thursday at the Holmes-Pfeifley Funeral Home, in Riley, Kan., where the family received friends from 7-8 p.m. Burial will be in the Bala Cemetery, west of Riley.

Memorials have been established for the Riley United Methodist Church and the Meadowlark Hospice of Clay Center.