Neli Baak Riebeek

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Neli Baak was born on December 19, 1927, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Her father was Willem Marinus Baak, and her mother was Hilligje Adrianna Rijsdijk. She died on December 11, 2024, at her home in Birch Creek Assisted Living in Smithfield, Utah. She is survived by her seven children, 19 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. She will be interned in the Richmond City Cemetery in Richmond, Utah on December 19, 2024. 

While Neli wasn’t fond of her name, Neeltje. She was proud to have been named for her grandmother, Neeltje Rijsdijk was the family’s first contact with the LDS missionaries. When she offered them soup, they countered by offering her a Book of Mormon. Neli’s mother, Hilligje Rijsdijk, was the only member of her family to join the church.

The years of the German occupation were hard for Neli’s family. After their church was bombed, they endured a half-hour walk to church twice every Sunday. Her friends got to stay home and have fun on Sunday and Neli’s family walked. Neli was trained as a kindergarten teacher in the Netherlands and worked as a nanny until she immigrated to the United States. Her employers were upset that she was leaving them to come to America.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Willem and Hilligje Baak and their family immigrated to the United States so they could be sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple since there was no temple in Europe at the time. Neli became a citizen of the United States on May 17, 1956.

Neli met Fred in the Netherlands at a Boy Scout camp. They met again in Utah when they were introduced by their sponsors and were married on November 2, 1950, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together, they raised seven children. Their children and their spouses are:

Gerardus (Jerry) and Janette Riebeek Michael and Aneda Riebeek Carolyn and Kim Hansen Bryan and Margaret Riebeek Sandra and Perry, deceased, Spackman Patricia and Michael Ivie Ronald and Nancy Riebeek

Neli was an avid knitter and seamstress. She used her skills to provide items for her family. She designed many amazing quilts. Her knitting needles were always close to hand.

Neli, with her husband Fred, served a genealogical mission photographing records in small Vermont communities. These became available through the Family History Department of the church, first as microfilm and then digitally, to assist others in their genealogical efforts.

Though confident that Neli has simply moved on to the next stage of her eternal progression, and with the knowledge she is once again with her loving husband Fred, she will be missed by her family.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.

*Disclaimer: If for some reason the livestream of the Funeral Service does not work we will record the service and upload the video & or the audio at a later date.*