Dolly Ellen Wihongi Baker

Born November 16, 1938, in Awarua, New Zealand, to Hono Wihongi and Ellen Jean Palmer. Passed away on Sept 27, 2025. The 4th of 11 children, she grew up on a sheep farm where she learned the value of hard work from a young age.

Went to school in a two-room country schoolhouse before moving to a small village where she attended an all-girls high school.

Moved from New Zealand to Australia, then to London, where she met the love of her life, Geoffrey Baker. Sealed in the London Temple on Feb 9, 1963 then moved to Vancouver, Canada a few months later and finally to Utah in 1964 so Geoff could attend BYU.

Dolly held many jobs, ranging from a secretary in New Zealand, London, and Utah to a rail hostess in Australia to a pharmacy assistant at the State Hospital in Provo. After 17 years with the State Rehab Department, she worked for 12 years at JetBlue –which she called her funnest career-and it took her all across the US and the world.

Travel—and especially cruising, 62 times to be exact--was Dolly’s passion. Her travels started as a young woman, when she sailed with her sister, aunt, and best friend from New Zealand to London via cruise ship and made stops all over the world, including India, the Middle East, and Europe.

Dolly was beloved by many friends and family and was lovingly admired as one of the Wihongi Aunties, who in Utah included her sisters Raihi, Charmaine, Luana, and late sister in law Barbara. The Aunties were prone to giggles, gossiping, and regular get-togethers. These angels spent hours with Dolly during her last few weeks. Dolly’s husband, her children, and her grandchildren were her pearls of great price.

She was so dearly loved and will be missed by all.

Dolly was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in Stake and ward primaries, Relief Society, and Young Women’s presidencies, with her last assignment being the ward chorister. She was an ordinance worker in the Draper Temple and served with Geoff as senior missionaries at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple Visitor Center. She faithfully attended the temple right up until her last few months. Her faith in Jesus Christ led her to tell us, “I know him, He is my friend.”

Dolly was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Waima, and brothers Moses, Barney, and Alwood, as well as her son-in-law, Saofai (Smurf) Sautia. She is survived by her husband, Geoffrey; children, Craig Baker (Stacee), Kimberley Lesh (Victor), Amy McCarty, Dana Sautia (Saofai); 14 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Buttercup Chapel, 1600 E Buttercup Dr, Sandy, Utah.

A viewing will also be held on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., with the funeral service starting at 10:30 a.m., also at the Buttercup Chapel.