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Sally Finkbine Baker, 92, passed away on June 9, 2023.
Graveside services will take place on Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. in Storm Lake Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held Sept. 17, at 2 p.m. at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements.
Sally was born on April 8, 1931 in Storm Lake, to Frank and Mae Finkbine. She was the younger of two sisters. She was a high school beauty, an athlete, a cheerleader and a true social butterfly. She attended Girl’s State: a national high school leadership forum. She loved to ice skate on Storm Lake and play with her dog, her sister Sue, and all the neighborhood kids, many of whom she remained friends with their entire lives. Everyone in Storm Lake knew Sally Finkbine.
She attended the University of Iowa and pledged Delta Gamma where she met several of her closest friends — women with whom she traveled, lived and loved her whole life. She played bagpipes and was a drummer with the Highlanders who performed not only at halftime of the football games, but eventually all over the world. She boasted about still being able to do the Highland Fling long into her old age! She graduated with a degree in education.
Upon graduation, Sally answered an ad in the local paper for a kindergarten tv teacher. This started her career as Miss Sally on Romper Room. She taught in Peoria, Ill.; Washington, D.C.; and Omaha, Neb. As Miss Sally, she made a number of PR appearances, won an award for outstanding TV show, appeared in numerous television commercials and rubbed elbows with many celebrities and politicians of the time. She received a personal letter from first lady Pat Nixon thanking her for her contribution to children’s education and letting her know that Miss Sally was her children’s favorite teacher.
After marriage and children, Sally went back to work substitute teaching, modeling and appearing in TV and print ads. Her heart for volunteering was immense. She worked with MADD and taught weekly classes in 4J schools on drug and alcohol abuse, Junior League as a sustainer member, and Delta Gamma where she served as alumni president and spent years advocating for their philanthropy Service for Sight. She was very active at Central Presbyterian Church as an Elder and a Deacon, she delivered children’s services and served on several committees there. She chaired the program to tape sermons and delivered them to those that couldn’t attend church. PEO, Make a Wish, Guide Dogs for the Blind… the list goes on and on.
If you met Sally, it didn’t take long for her to bring up her family, her Iowa roots, Delta Gamma or her grandchildren. She was an amazing Nana to Jerry and Samantha. She never missed a game, a performance or a birthday. She was always ready with books to read and crafts to make. Glitter and finger painting didn’t scare her and she was a whiz with Legos and loved to play “school.” Her cookies and brownies were infamous…there was always a baked “something” on the counter after school just waiting for a bunch of kids to devour it.
She loved golf, painting, bridge, volunteering and hostessing. She loved the Ducks, but loved her Hawkeyes more. She passed away peacefully on June 9 at the age of 92. Sally was preceded in death by her sister and brother in law, Susan and Glen Graves; and her son, Bill Baker.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Jerry Rouleau; her grandchildren: Samantha Rouleau, Jerry and Madison Rouleau; her great-granddaughter, Remington Rouleau; great-grandson, Redmond Rouleau; and her nephews: Frank Graves, Chris Dugan, John Graves and Thomas Graves.
