Donald Allen Baird

On December 30th, 2023, Donald Allen Baird, 81, beloved husband, father, grandfather, passed away in Twin Falls, Idaho. Don was born on July 11, 1942, to Dewey and Wilma Baird in Huntsville, Arkansas. After attending Kimberly High School, he went on to join the Army.

In the Army he served from 1960 to 1966.  He began his enlistment at Fort Riley, Kansas.  He went on to Fort Sill Oklahoma for Survey School. He continued his enlistments to Scofield Barracks in Hawaii, before leaving for Vietnam. Don was a gunner in helicopter during the war.

Don was discharged from the Army as a Staff Sargent with many awards and Pins. One of his favorites was his Purple Heart he received. Don returned to Twin Falls, Idaho to ask the love of his life, Susan Miller, to marry him. They married on January 29, 1967, in Reno, Nevada with only her sister and brother-in-law as witnesses. They were married 56 years and were with each other through all of life's difficulties.

He worked for the Sugar Factory in the winters and US Forest Service fire crew in the summers between 1966 until he went fulltime in Forest Service in 1969 as a Civil Engineer designing roads. He worked in multiple US Forest Service districts throughout his career. He started for the Sawtooth National Forest here in Twin Falls, then moving to Mountain Home in 1979 to 1984 for the Boise National Forest.  He decided that he wanted a change of location, so he applied for an engineering position in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on the Mark Twain National Forest from 1984-1989. Later, wanting to return to the west, he accepted a position in Silver Lake, Oregon on the Fremont Nation Forest from 1989 to 1990 before accepting his last transfer to Pomeroy Washington on the Umatilla National Forest from 1990 until his retirement in 1994.

After retirement Don and Susan made trips to New Port and Lincoln City, Oregon in September every year from 1995 to 2019.  Don was known for his shenanigans. Playing pranks on everyone, his favorite prank was him pointing at your stomach and made you look then flick at their nose for looking. He was always teasing anyone who was around him.

Don and Susan would go on to have 2 children, James and Connie. Don was a great father and husband. He always supported us all throughout the many accomplishments and difficulties of our lives. When Don was not working, he could be found hunting, fishing, and camping with relatives. Don was predeceased by grandparents George and Glessner Pullin, parents Dewey Baird, Wilma (Baird) Salvage, Aunts and Uncles Leonard & Thelma Pullin, Bill Pullin, George & Margret Pullin. Dean & Clela Pullin, Roger Andrews, Hellen Cummins, and grandson Zachary Baird. He is survived by his loving wife Susan Baird, James Baird (son), Connie (Carl) Ihler (daughter), Yvonne Patty Wright (sister), Geneal Andrews (aunt) and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 5, 2024, at Wilks Magic Valley Funeral Home at 2551 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. A viewing will be held at 1:00 PM.

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