Mark L. Baldwin

MARK'S OBITUARY Mark Lehn Baldwin 10-09-1922 to 12-19-2019 It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Mark Lehn Baldwin (97 years) of Humboldt, Minnesota. Mark Baldwin was a farmer, businessman, electrician, repairman, computer buff, a board member for the Humboldt Elevator, and the Humboldt School. He was born in Emerson, Manitoba to Philip and Rose Baldwin and lived in Saint Vincent, MN. He went to grade school there until the family bought a farm and he finished high school in Humboldt, MN. Mark was an avid student and loved inventing things. He created a hitch and other things to make farm work easier. And as kids, he and his brother built telescopes and radios. His family loved music and Mark enjoyed playing the clarinet growing up. Mark received a scholarship to attend the University of Minnesota in the College of Engineering. In addition to studying, Mark worked 20 hours a week as a busboy and dishwasher to pay expenses. To his great regret, he was unable to finish his degree. All scholarships were withdrawn during the war, and Mark was tasked with going home to raise crops for the war effort. In 1943 Mark met and married Joyce Larson of Kennedy, Minnesota. Together they moved into the Baldwin family homestead one mile south of Humboldt on Highway 75 where they raised nine children. After all the children had grown up and left home, Mark and Joyce bought a winter home in Yuma, Arizona, and traveled seasonally back to Humboldt for the summers. Joyce died on May 15, 2009. In 2014 Mark met and married Shirley Rydberg of Hallock, Minnesota. They shared many interests. Mark loved to eat and Shirley loved to cook. They also played cards, entertained family, and stayed connected to a large number of friends from Kittson County. Mark is survived by Shirley Rydberg and all nine of his children, 19 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. Mark's children are Mark Michael (Lee) Baldwin of Gilbert, AZ; Joyce Michelle (Denny) Vershaw of Elk Grove, CA; Thomas (Ardith) Baldwin of Olathe, KS; Mary Jane (Joel) Brown of Bastrop, TX; Ronald (Colette) Baldwin of Humboldt, MN; Cynthia (Don Huggins) Baldwin of Reno, NV; Margaret (Mark) Wheeler of Mankato, MN; Mark Lehn Jr. (Melody) Baldwin; and Kristine (Dan) Ohmann of St. Vincent, MN.