Winton, David Michael "Mike" David Michael "Mike" Winton, a civic and business leader in the Twin Cities, died Wednesday from complications associated with a long term blood disorder and heart failure. He was 79. He is survived by his wife of over 56 years, Sarah "Penny" Rand Winton of Minneapolis. In addition, he is survived by 5 children: David Judson II (Charlotte) of San Francisco, Sarah Chase (Mark) of Los Angeles, Lucy Starkweather of New York, Rufus Rand (Elizabeth) of Wayzata and Nicholas Decker (Tricia) of Boston and 12 grandchildren. As well, he is survived by two sisters, Margaret Anderson of Wayzata and Katherine Evans of Washington, DC.

Most recently, he served as the managing general partner of his family investment operation after decades of operating its lumber business. From 1965 until its sale, he served as a chairman of the board of the Pas Lumber Co. Ltd., the family controlled timber and milling operations in British Columbia.

He is best known for his venture capital investing in a number of Minnesota companies including SciMed, American Medical Systems and Old Country Buffets. He has served on the Board of Directors of several public and private companies including Masonite Corporation, the Northwest Bancorporation of Minneapolis and most recently Dolan Media.

Born in Minneapolis, Winton grew up on Lake Minnetonka. As a boy he patrolled the lake on one of the area's first outboard motor boats looking for overturned scows he could help right. For years he rode the trolley to the Blake School in Hopkins until he left for Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts. In 1951, he graduated from Princeton University. After graduation he completed the Army Ranger training as a member of a CIA paramilitary team based in Munich, Germany. During his years in the CIA, he helped assemble and train pro-western, anti-Soviet members of a Belarusian force.

In 1957, Winton graduated from Harvard Business School and worked in management consulting in New York City before returning to Minnesota and the family lumber business founded in the late 1800's by his grandfather Charles J. Winton and his cousin David N. Winton.

A lifelong interest in architecture led to an award from the University of Minnesota School of Architecture and Landscape Design. Winton had been the key figure in rejecting a predictable plan for replacing the Norwest Bank headquarters building after its fire and engaging Cesar Pelli to design the now Wells Fargo building in downtown Minneapolis.

The Winton's guest house in Wayzata, designed by Frank Gehry, presaged that architect's rise to international fame. Recently, the guest house itself has received national attention with the plan of the new owner to move it to Owatonna for wider public appreciation.

His philanthropic interests included the Walker Art Center where he served on the board for over 20 years and to which he and his wife Penny donated many pieces of their contemporary art collection. They were both active admirers of the University of Minnesota and funded a chair there. They recently received the University's highest honor, the Regent's Award.

A special satisfaction came from founding Pathways, a center for people with life-threating illness seeking complementary approaches to healing, now in its 17th year of service in Minneapolis. Mike and Penny were both deeply concerned about racism and proud of being awarded the 2005 Equal Justice award from the Council on Crime and Justice.

A memorial service was held at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave. at 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 3rd. The family requests no flowers. Memorials are preferred to Minneapolis Pathways, Inc. 3115 Hennepin Ave. S. 55408 or the donor's choice.