(Alma) Ferne Strohm Baldwin

(Alma) Ferne Strohm Baldwin, North Manchester, IN, died at Timbercrest Health Care, in North Manchester, IN, on November 26, 2016. Ferne was born on September 29, 1919, in Bourbon County, KS, to John Alonzo and Mary Matilda (Derrick) Strohm. Her rural roots left her a country girl, at heart, her whole life. She graduated early from Uniontown High School, where she was known to beat the teachers in geography bees. Ferne was too young to start teaching, so left home at 16, and went to Chicago in 1936 to attend Bethany Bible School. She met Elmer Rufus Baldwin there, and they were married on March 11, 1938. After attending Nebraska Wesleyan University, the University of Wichita, and Bethany Seminary, Ferne and Elmer felt called, in 1944, to serve on the Church of the Brethren mission field in Nigeria, West Africa, arriving just weeks before their first child was born. Ferne's work included teaching in the schools, language translation, producing books in the local language, keeping the mission books, and other office and deputation work, for 18 years. All three of her daughters were born there, in a land and among people loved by her family. While on a year-long furlough in the States, Ferne graduated from Manchester College, in 1958, with a degree in philosophy. In 1962, the family returned to the States to stay. Ferne worked as manager of the Manchester College print shop until 1966; earned her Master's and PhD. in social services from Ball State University in 1973, majoring in history. She was a professor of sociology and social work (becoming Chair of the department) at Manchester College from 1969...continuing to teach part time after becoming the Archivist...until 1999. She moved to Timbercrest Senior Living Community in 2004. Ferne was an active member of the Manchester Church of the Brethren since the mid-1960s, serving a number of years as Moderator and Church Board Chair (including when the church burned and the new one was re-built). She was on the first Lafiya committee, was a long-time member of the church Historical Committee, and taught Sunday school from time to time. Activities in the larger community included the town Historical Society, the Manchester College Community Club, the Wabash County Genealogy Society, and bird counts with the Audubon Society...having served as President for all of them. Other interests included gardening, sewing, cooking, puzzles, and card games. She also enjoyed her travels to 32 countries and to all but two of the U.S. states (Hawaii and Connecticut). She was passionate about learning, treating the earth and its inhabitants kindly - with justice for all - living simply, and always trying to make a positive difference in this world. Ferne loved her family dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer (on March 24, 1985); her middle daughter and son-in-law, Louise (Louie) & Phil Rieman (on December 26, 2008); both brothers, Roy and Leo Strohm; her sister and brother-in-law, Lula May & Jesse Elder; a nephew, Gary Strohm; a great-granddaughter, Rebecca Joy Bryant; and others in the extended family. She is survived by daughters, Barbara (Tim) Bryant, of Jackson, TN, and Lois (David) Good, of North Manchester, IN; her eight grandchildren, Ken Rieman (Kate Miller), Tina Rieman, Cheri Rieman, Kevin (Lori) Bryant, Jonathan (Rachael) Bryant, Ted (Angela) Bryant, Christopher Good (Heidi Beck), and Michael (Yazmin) (Good) Gove; 18 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Alice Newcomer, of North Manchester, IN, and Frances Strohm, of Port Angeles, WA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in the Manchester Church of the Brethren, with Pastor Kurt Borgmann officiating, and visitation following the service. Gifts given in memory of Ferne may be made to: the Baldwin Scholarship Fund or the Baldwin Rieman Peacemaker Fund at Manchester University, or to Timbercrest Charitable Assistance.