Dorothy 'Dot' Mavis Bell Baldwin, 88
Dorothy Baldwin passed away Dec. 16, 2008, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home.
She was born Aug. 7, 1920, in Geraldine to Harvey and Dorothy Bell. Dorothy graduated high school in Geraldine, prior to moving to the Flathead Valley. This is where she met her eternal soulmate, Jerry Baldwin.
They were married in 1940 in Polson, and lived in Mullen, Idaho, later returning to Martin City.
While in Martin City, Dorothy was involved with establishing the Martin City Community Church, and was a member of the PTA, the local square-dance club as an instructor as well as a dancer, and the P & F Club in the Cayuse Prairie School District.
In 1958, Dorothy and the family moved to the Lake Blaine area, to what is called the family home. She resided there after Jerry's death in 2000, until January 2008, at which time she moved to the Lutheran Home.
During their retirement years, Dorothy loved traveling extensively, enjoying the Southwest, particularly Arizona, where they finally settled in the Yuma area for the winters.
She loved to dance, play card games, and enjoyed the outdoors for any activity, be it tending her begonias, camping, family reunions, or antelope and deer hunting. She also loved to reminisce about her "hard-scrabble" childhood in the Geraldine and Missouri breaks area. One of her greatest passions was developed early in her childhood, enjoying the companionship of any book available.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; four brothers; two sisters; two half brothers; and one half sister.
She is survived by her daughters, Faith Howard and Bob of Martin City, and Dianne Murer and Ted of Kalispell; son, Gary Baldwin, and Florence, of Mead, Wash.; seven grandchildren, Travis Murer, Janeille Stephens, Darcy Fleming and Patrick, Brett Howard and Mandy, Roger Baldwin, Jeremie Baldwin and Katie, and Christopher Baldwin; 10 great-grandchildren, Brandon and Tyler Murer, Bryan and Kalyb Sparks, Hunter Fleming, Malyssa, Bethany and Marcus Howard, and Madison and Isabelle Baldwin. She also is survived by her sister, Elnora Dye; brother, Richard Bell; sisters-in-law, Virginia Bell, Thelma Bell, Gladys Danielson and Edna Johnson; brothers-in-law and their wives, Merle and Jeannie Baldwin, and Bert and lnez Baldwin; and many nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt, and will be deeply missed and remembered forever.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with Chaplain Bob Thornton officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Interment will be afterward at Fairview Cemetery.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to the nurses and staff of the Immanuel Lutheran Home and Hospice for the tender care, love and kindness they gave to Dorothy.
It is suggested that in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the donor's choice of charities.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is taking care of the family's needs and service arrangements.