Mary Margaret Rose Baldwin

Mary Margaret Rose Baldwin, age 80, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, surrounded by her immediate family.   She was born on February 4, 1942, to Henry and Margaret Wenten of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Mary graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in sociology from Mount Mary College in Wisconsin.  Her youthful hobbies included ballet, piano, and field hockey.  In the late 1950s, Mary and her adventurous mother embarked on a road trip to see the western national parks of the United States.  Mary fell in love with the West and aspired to return. In college, Mary fell in love with her husband of 59 years, George Nicholas Baldwin, and following college graduation, she taught second grade.   In 1975, Nick and Mary decided to move to Utah and fulfilled her childhood dream to return to the West.  Utah became a special place for the entire family and remained her home for more than 50 years. 

Mary and Nick, along with their four children, share the love of the outdoors and stayed extra busy on the weekends and extended trips which Mary arranged with ease and grace.  In addition, to visiting numerous U.S. national parks, Mary’s favorite trips included biking in Italy, and sailing in the Virgin Islands and the Greek Isles. Closer to home, she enjoyed family trips to the Tetons, Lake Powell, and southern Utah.  During her marriage, she came to enjoy (or at least pretended to enjoy) regular family tennis and golf competitions, and no one could contend with her excellent badminton skills or graceful ice skating.  

Wintertime activities of alpine skiing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing filled her adventuresome spirit.  During the summer months, there were memorable hikes in the canyons and rafting trips with occasional trips to Lake Powell where she always managed to catch the biggest fish.  Mary was a wonderful cook and was always up for a game of cards particularly with her bridge group.

In addition to loving the outdoors, she was fond of attending the ballet, symphony concerts, and performances with family and friends.  While living in Salt Lake City, Mary, Nick and a group of friends purchased an antique fire engine which they would drive to the University of Utah for tailgating and football games and bring along her delicious chili. 

Mary would regularly serve the community as a Girl Scout Leader, Assistance League Volunteer, Snowbird Ski Team Board Member and Race Official, and classroom volunteer.  Her children appreciated her steady guidance with school work, and driving for numerous activities.  She sewed many ballet and Halloween costumes for the kids and created memorable family recipes including Mary’s herb green beans, lemon chicken, wild rice with mushrooms, baked cheese spaghetti, and delicate butter lemon holiday cookies.  She also masterly prepared the Wenten Saurbraten and Potato Torte recipes that her mother brought to the U.S. as an immigrant.

Mary is survived by her loving husband Nick, her daughters Margaret Mary (James) and Susan, her son Jeffrey, and her daughter Lynn Ann Baldwin Tew (Christopher), and her granddaughter Alison.  Mary was preceded in death by her parents and brother Henry.

The family invites friends to attend a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, September 13^th from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City Utah.  Please use the parking lot and entrance to the north of the building.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 14 at 12:00 pm at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 East Creek Road, Sandy, Utah.  

Mary Margaret will be privately laid to rest by her family at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.