Bette A. Baldwin

Bette A. Baldwin September 26, 1922 February 5, 2016 Pine River, Minnesota Bette A. Baldwin of Pine River, Minnesota, formerly of Mehama, Oregon, and Manassas, VA., passed away peacefully of natural causes early Friday morning, February 5th at the age of 93. She had been a resident at the Good Samaritan Society Care Center following the gift of several days of love and support from her family, the Good Samaritan staff, and the hospice care team. Bette Arlone Darter was born on September 26, 1922, in Cabool, Missouri, the daughter of David Franklin and Bessie Mae (Green) Darter. She was the fourth of five daughters and one son, all previously deceased. Eventually, the family settled in Miami, Oklahoma , where Bette graduated from Miami High School in 1941, a time when World War II was in its third year and escalating. Bette worked at a bakery giving her mother one half of her earnings every week. One day her mother handed back to her an envelope containing all the money she had received from Bette and told her it was time to follow her older sister and go to California to support the war effort. Bette worked in the ship yards for Matson Shipbuilding Company where she met her future husband, Bill Baldwin. While on leave, Bill and Bette went to Reno, Nevada and on November 16, 1943, they became husband and wife. Bill was shipped out to a Naval base in Hawaii following the attack on Pearl Harbor while Bette lived with her new in-laws in California until Bill was discharged October 21, 1945, from the Navy. Following the War, they settled in Redwood City, CA, where all four of their children were born. They are: Jill, Becky, Dennis and Grant. Bette and Bill lived in several states during the next 25 years until 1969 when they settled in Half Moon Bay, CA . Besides the ship yards, Bette’s employment settings included positions in retail and manufacturing. (Parker Hannifin Corporation). As they approached retirement age, Bette and Bill purchased a convenience store/bait shop in Gates Oregon. This change was followed by many active years involved with the church, quilting, becoming Master Gardeners, traveling to see grandchildren, and enjoying the Oregon parks and scenery. Bill died in 1991, and in 1997 Bette moved to Manassas, VA, to live near her oldest daughter Jill Freeman. In 2012 Bette moved to Pine River where she has resided at the Good Samaritan Society, in order to be close to son, Bill, and daughter, Becky. Bette is survived by her daughter Jill, (Bob) Freeman of Manassas, VA; Rebecca Baldwin ( Rev. Paul N. Svingen), of Backus, MN; son William Dennis Baldwin (Penny) of Pillager, MN; and son Grant Baldwin (Kathy) of Athens, OH. Also surviving Bette are eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren: granddaughter, Sherry Freeman (Michael Davis) parents of great-grandsons, Jared and Joshua; grandson Mark Freeman (Jennifer), parents of great-grandchildren Korin, Jody, and Gilli ; grandson Randy Koppenhaver (Melissa) Koppenhaver, parents of great-grand-children Peyton, Brenna and Kenzie; granddaughter Kristy Pizzuto (Lee); grandsons Kurt and Jeremy Baldwin, and granddaughters, Kelsey and Alana Baldwin. Bette is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the Good Samaritan Society, Box 29, Pine River, MN (Residents Activity Fund) or to Gates Community Church, 40070 Gates School Road, Gates, Oregon 97346. A memorial service for Bette was held on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the Good Samaritan Society of Pine River, MN. A funeral service will be held for Bette at 11:00 am, Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the Gates Community Church in Gates, Oregon. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Gates, Oregon. Arrangements are by Dennis Funeral Home, Walker, MN & Weddle Funeral Services, Stayton, OR