Alice M. Baldwin

September 14, 1929 - December 2, 2014 Alice Baldwin was a true Colorado farm girl, born (September 14, 1929) and raised on its eastern plains in Genoa, in the days of the Great Dust Bowl. She went to be with her Lord at the age of 85, on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014, at her home in Northglenn, Colorado, after a day full of family visits and myriad expressions of love. There wasn't a single member of her local family whom she didn't see, during her last week on this earth. Alice grew up on a family farm as the 11th among a baker's dozen of boys and girls. She was taught to work hard, value family, and persevere in the face of hardship. On a recent trip across the plains, she recounted stories of blocking up the window and door cracks with towels to block the dust, and recalled how the family lost their farm during those times. After living briefly in Limon, they rented a farm again in Genoa, where Alice attended a little country school. The family lived a hard working life, moving to yet another farm (where they had to walk a half-mile each day to get a ride to school), and then to a farm south of Bovina. Alice always and IN all ways loved country music. Now, the Howe kids weren't actually allowed to listen to music, because the radio batteries cost too much but Alice frequently snuck in to listen, much to her mother's stern exasperation! Though her mom thought Alice was a bit of a ‘wild child,' her siblings prefer to call that spirited girl ‘spunky.' She learned to play her brother Loren's guitar after he joined the Navy, and she loved the local country dances. Her sister Fern says she loved the boys as much as the music and dancing! After Alice graduated from Genoa High School in 1947, she soon married Don Baldwin, originally of Dighton, Kansas, who came from a similarly large farming family. But not before her stint as a ‘soda jerk' at Houtz Drug Store in Limon, which she'd recall with a big smile, a laugh, and happy pride in her skill. She met Don during the time she worked at the Hugo bank; they married (May 17, 1948) and made their home in Kansas. While her husband attended chiropractic college in Kansas City, Don Jr. and Gene were born; Debbie and Sonja followed later. She worked part-time as a bank proof clerk while Don worked as a salesman, later as a milk deliveryman. and then as a Farmer's Insurance salesman. Alice provided for her kids as best she was able, especially in rough times. She was ‘Howe Strong' and always found a way to get by, putting her kids first and doing her best for them. Her family was blessed by her quiet support, her abiding love, and the example of her steadfast way in life. She cared for her husband through many years of debilitating illness, giving comfort until his last days. She loved not only her own children, but offered a welcoming heart to their wives and husbands, who feel she was a real mom to them, as well. Her daughters-in-law, Nikki and Karen, and her son-in-law Blaine, are among her biggest fans, loving her for her quiet, constant affection. She was rightfully pleased that, in her end days, many of her grandchildren told her of their love and how much they appreciated her presence and support in their lives. She especially valued the time she was able to spend with her littlest sister, Fern, who has been a constant support and companion, and she loved each of her brothers and sisters deeply and for who they uniquely are. Alice took joy in small things such as flowers (especially Stargazer Lilies), the music of the Gaithers, and Dancing With the Stars. Lord knows, she had an absolute passion for NASCAR races, the Colorado Rockies, and the Denver Broncos. She'd watch football while wearing her Broncos earrings, her Broncos sweatshirt, her grippy bright orange Broncos slipper socks, and with a Broncos soda cooler in hand! Alice will be remembered by her family and friends as a quiet yet often startlingly funny lady with a tart sense of humor who set everybody to laughing, even in her hospital room. Alice will be sorely, truly, and deeply missed, for hers is a large legacy of love. Alice has left behind her brother Loren Alonzo Howe (age 94), and her three sisters, Laura Elizabeth Howe Stone (age 87), Betty Lou Howe Wardrop (age 83), and Fern Elaine Howe Balaun (age 79). She also leaves, for now, her 4 children Donald (“Don”) Lee Baldwin, Jr. (age 65), Merlyn Eugene (“Gene”) Baldwin (age 63), Debra (“Debbie”) Kay Jennen (age 55), and Sonja Marie Killip (age 53), who have given her 8 still-living grandchildren Tina Anne Grant (age 44), Chris Eugene Baldwin (age 34), Amy Sue DeHeld (age 31), Jamie Cope (age 37), Timothy (“Tim”) Hughes (age 30), Kaitlyn (“Katie”) Marie Jennen (age 22), Alisha Jo Huggins (age 25), and Kristopher Don Jennen (age 21).She has also left, so far, 10 great-grandchildren, Elijah Paul Grant (age 15), Kayla Marie Cope (age 20), Elizabeth Crimson Cope (age 13), Anna Marie Willis (age 5), Landon Alan Willis (age 5), and Abigail Katherine Huggins (age 3). Not to mention nearly innumerable nieces and nephews. (There are currently 143 biological Howe descendants!) Alice looked forward to rejoining her family in heaven, where she has been reunited with her husband of 41 years, Donald Lee Baldwin, Sr. (b. May 15, 1929  d. February 26, 1989). She will greet the sisters who predeceased her, Minnie Pearl Howe (1909-1913), Eula Alvine Howe Fisher (1915-2006), Sylvia Alene Howe Jones (1916-1993), and Norma Lea Howe Bylsma (1923-2014), as well as embrace her brothers, Curtis Alexander Howe (1911-1999), Gerald Claude Howe (1913-1915), Guy Allen Howe (1919-1968), and Roy Leslie Howe (1925-2002). She will reunite with her parents Arthur Henry Howe (1886 - 1959) and Dora Helen Howe (née Bailey) (1890- 1987, and one grandchild, Eric Lee Hughes (b. January 21, 1982 d. January 20, 1985). Her memorial will be held at 10a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, at the Crossroads Church of Denver, West Chapel located at 9901 W 50th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO, 80033 (303-421-3800). A reception will follow, at A Great Occasion Event Center, located at 6429 Miller Street, Suite A, in Arvada, CO, 80004.