RONDA SMITH BAUM

Ronda Smith Baum, 47, died April 30, 2005, at her home in Palmer. A visitation will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 7, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Palmer, with the service to follow at 1 p.m. Officiating will be Bishop Michael Owens. Pallbearers will be Michael Baum, Alan Baum, Art Smith, Brian Smith, Johnathon Bergey, Tom Bergey, Andy Saunders and Dustin Saunders.

Mrs. Baum was born April 26, 1958, in American Fork, Utah. She graduated from Lehi High School in 1976. She moved to Alaska in 1992, living in Anchorage from 1982-1986, moving to Utah and then returning to Alaska in 1992, to live in Palmer.

During her life, Mrs. Baum was a homemaker, business owner and a mother. She attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she was a primary teacher and a nursery leader. Her interests included Lollipops, cooking and raising her grandkids.

Her family wrote, "Ronda will be missed by her family and friends and will always be remembered as a giving person. True to her generous nature, she gave the gift of life through organ donation to make life better for many others. Ronda had a gift of making others happy, she had a smile that would light up a room. Ronda's kind spirit and love of life was an inspiration to her family and friends. She married her best friend and high school sweetheart, Kevin Baum, on Dec. 8, 1977, in the Salt Lake Latter-day Saint Temple, afterward having five beautiful children whom she had the opportunity to stay home and raise."

She is survived by her husband, Kevin Baum of Palmer; sons, Michael Baum of Wasilla and Alan Baum of Palmer; daughters, Ronda "Nicole" Baum, Candice Baum, Brittany Baum, all of Palmer, and her grandchildren, Joshua Baum of Palmer, Anthony Baum of Palmer and Emma Baum of Wasilla.

Interment will be at Valley Memorial Park. Arrangements are with Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.