Delbert Amos Baum

Delbert Amos Baum, at two days shy of being 102 years old, peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 12, 2021 at his home in Nampa, Idaho after a wonderful, long and blessed life.

Delbert was born on January 14, 1919 to Frank and Myrtle (Hastriter) Baum at the home of his Grandma and Grandpa Hastriter in Nampa. He spent his childhood living in the Boise area helping his dad on the farm and also raising beef and milk cows.  When he was old enough, he helped take milk to the stores to sell for .05 cents a quart before heading to school.  He attended Franklin School in Boise until the 9th grade where he enjoyed studying FFA.  Delbert had many jobs as a young man.  He worked at a gas station as an attendant where he also sold honey. He and his older brothers, Eldred (Buster) and Laurence, went into business together hauling hay, logs, cattle or anything that could be placed on the bed of a truck for income.  In 1940 Delbert married Wilda (Bonde).  To this Union 3 boys were born: Frank, Jerry and Dave. Delbert and Wilda were later divorced in 1968. In 1941, recruiters from Boeing came to the farm and asked him if he would be interested in going to a school in Boise to complete a skills test to see if he would be an asset for work at Boeing.  With enthusiasm, he and his brother Laurence tested and landed jobs for the company building the B-17 the ‘Flying Fortress’.  During this training, he first learned what a yard stick was.  He, Wilda and their young son, Frank, Laurence and his young family, pack up and moved to Seattle. His job on the B-17 was to build the inner structure of the middle fuselage. While living in Seattle, his 2nd son Jerry was born in 1944.  Upon returning to Idaho in 1945, he and Buster started farming in different areas of the Treasure Valley. In 1949 they settled in Nampa on the old McClure place on Midland. His 3rd son, Dave was born in 1950.  In 1964 Delbert bought the old Sorenson place down the road where he made his “forever” home. Delbert married Viola (Weldin-Watson) in 1969 and with this marriage, Delbert became a dad again to a 4th son, Lyle Watson, whom Delbert raised and loved as his very own. Delbert continued farming with his boys until he retired from Baum Farms in 1982.  After he retired, he never slowed down. He was either out working in the farm shop on equipment and projects with Jerry and Dave or helping Frank on his farm in Nevada.  Delbert not only worked hard, but he also played hard.  At 59 years old, he decided that he and Lyle would start snowmobiling. He had many rides with Dave, Jerry and the neighboring farmers. As he got older, he enjoyed taking shorter rides with his grandsons.  After winning a trophy a couple of years in a row as the oldest snowmobiler to do the Poker Run with the Cougar Mtn Snowmobile Club, he hung up his helmet at the young age of 86. Delbert enjoyed water skiing, camping, BSU football, mowing his yard, watching his grandchildren play sports, jeep rides and drives with Lyle to check out the crops, and his daily walks around the farm.  He got the most enjoyment out of these things if he did them with his devoted wife by his side. Just being with her made everything worthwhile. They enjoyed countless hours of sitting on the patio together talking and watching the world go by.  He beamed when his family would come to visit and always welcomed a friend to come sit awhile. Delbert served as an alternate to the Canyon County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee in 1965 and he was a lifetime member of the Caldwell Elks Lodge #1448.  As long as he was physically able, he attended Canyon Hill Church of the Nazarene in Caldwell. Delbert loved and adored his grandchildren.  He was honored to present the Honor Cord to his granddaughter, Stephanie, at her Graduate School Ceremony.  He and Michael grew pumpkins, corn and sugar beets to enter into the Fair where they received ribbons.  Spencer and Grandpa took long walks together on the farm and Grandpa always tried to attend their sporting events regardless of rain or shine. “Grandpa was born 3 months after World War 1. In his lifetime he witnessed the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Cold War and several other conflicts that involved our Nation. He saw 18 different U.S. Presidents enter the Oval Office. He survived the outbreaks of Polio, Smallpox, the Spanish Flu, Swine Flu (N1H1), SARS and yes, COVID-19. He beat Cancer. Grandpa was a walking encyclopedia/history book full of knowledge and wisdom. He was a kind man and a great role model.”- Spencer Watson, Michael Watson, Grandsons.

Delbert Amos Baum is survived by his Beloved wife of 51 years, Viola, his sons Frank (Gwen), Jerry, Dave (Terri) Baum and Lyle (Karen) Watson all of Nampa, Granddaughter Stephanie (Kevin) Thompson of Eagle, Grandsons Michael (Susie) Watson of Boise and Spencer Watson of Nampa, Great Grandchildren Jessica and Nicole Thompson, and Gracie and Kenneth Watson and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his extended Watson family that he loved and enjoyed dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters Bernyce McCormick-Lehmann, and Berdene (Don) Saures, and his 4 brothers Eldred, Laurence (Esther), Clinton (Bobbi) and Bill (Ramona) Baum and a Grandson, Troy Baum.

The family would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Hanson, Elma and Maria, St. Alphonsus Home Health and Hospice, and Treasure Valley Hospice for their endless help and encouragement over the years.

With heartfelt thanks, we want to publicly say that Delbert had the best caregivers EVER! Kindra Lozano, Becka Means, Genni Machovsky, Mary Esparza, and Robin Crawford.  Thank you for your endless and unconditional love that you showed our dad over the last 6 years.  YOU are the reason that he was able to stay in his home and live his life to the fullest on his own terms. Each of you are amazing and are greatly appreciated.

Terri, Karen and Gwen, thank you for taking care of dad no matter what time of the day or night that he needed you and loving him the way that you did.  He loved you and thought of you as his own daughters.

Due to circumstances that are beyond our control right now, there will not be a service for Delbert at this time. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, Delbert asked that memorial contributions be made to Trinity Pines Camp and Conference Center in c/o of the Intermountain District Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 1159, Nampa, Idaho 83553 or to the charity of your choice.

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