Betty Baldwin

BALDWIN (Hafar)
Betty Mae

Betty Mae Baldwin passed away on July 12th. She was born in Grand Rapids, MN, to parents Bert and Matilda Hafar of Harris Township on February 15, 1932. She is survived by her devoted son, Brian, her brother, Vern Hafar, and her sister, Alice Erickson. Her other siblings now deceased include Donald, Leslie, and Roscoe Hafar, and Claire Hafar (Horton).
Betty graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1950. She then went on to work at a Grand Rapids bank and then for the Marshall-Wells Company of Duluth as a secretary. On Aug 25, 1953 she married George Lester (Golly) Baldwin, also of Grand Rapids. Since he was serving in the U.S. Air Force, the wedding took place in Laon, France. The couple proceeded to Fargo, ND, and then Albuquerque, NM, as he pursued his pharmacy education. Their son, Brian, was born in 1957 in Albuquerque. In devoted fashion, she followed her husband through his pharmacy career to Hoyt Lakes and to St. Paul. She then returned to the secretarial work force to support the family while her husband returned to college to change careers to the public health field.

In similar fashion, she followed her husband to Cedar Rapids, IA, then to LaCrosse, WI, to support his career moves. A heavy blow occurred in 1977 with the death of her husband, George, at the age of 47. Under considerable stress and emotion, she again re-entered the secretarial work force. She was blessed to receive an excellent job as Business Division Secretary for the Western Wisconsin Technical Institute in LaCrosse. She served with distinction there for over 17 years and cultivated the respect and friendship of scores of coworkers and students.
Perhaps Betty's greatest joy was to travel to Colorado Springs, CO, in 1979 to attend the graduation festivities of son Brian at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The event was clearly overshadowed, however, since George did not survive to observe this otherwise joyous event.
Betty's life can be easily summarized as a life of giving. Throughout her life, she always gave - she always sacrificed. In her retirement in La Crosse, she was a very active volunteer, driving handicapped individuals around to tend to their errands and needs. She became quite well known for her knitting. She produced literally thousands of caps, scarves, mittens, etc., all of which were donated to numerous charities, churches, elementary schools, and an orphanage in Colombia, South America.
Funeral visitation will commence on Thursday, July 18th, at 09:00 am followed by Mass at 11:00 am at the Church of St. Michael, Stillwater, MN. A graveside interment service will be held on July 25th at 11:00 am at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in LaCrosse. A family and friends fellowship will follow immediately afterward in Murphy Hall in St. James Catholic Church.