Betty Blanchard

Bette Blanchard, 90, died Sunday, July 21, 2013, after a determined struggle with old age. Bette, whose full name was Blanche Elizabeth Church Blanchard, was born in Waupun, Wisconsin on August 10, 1922, to Arthur Davison Church and Nellie Finney Church. Her mother died of tuberculosis in 1924, and Bette was raised by her father, from whom she inherited her "green thumb? and love of birds, and her stepmother, Mildred Sontag Church. Bette graduated from Waupun High School in 1940 and from Milwaukee State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee) in 1944. She met her husband Frank L. Blanchard, a lifetime resident of Alexandria, Minnesota, while he was a dental student at Marquette University. They were married on Feb. 10, 1945. After her graduation, Bette taught at a war-time nursery, and eventually Bette and Frank, a Navy lieutenant, went to Idaho's Farragut Naval Base. They returned to Alexandria after the war, but during the Korean War they lived in Camp Poke, Louisiana where Frank was stationed as a Navy dentist. When they returned to Alexandria, Frank joined Dr. ?Sol? Solberg's dental practice, and Bette devoted herself to raising a family and to many community causes. She served on the St. Mary's Church Parish Council, the Cemetery Committee and for many years, with the help of great friends, organized church wedding receptions. She volunteered with Mobile Meals for more than 20 years and left a humorous notebook of stories about the people she served. Bette was instrumental in establishing and raising funds for Citizens Field and the Runestone Community Center and helped implement a bonafide hockey program in Alexandria. In 1991, she received the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award. Bette was known for her sense of humor and her crusty, but well-intentioned, comments. Bette treasured her trips and sports outings with Frank (particularly to her beloved Cardinals? games), her bridge club friends, her close-knit neighbors, her companions to the county and state fairs, and her lifetime partners-in-pranks, Donna Mae Lundstrom and Sis Harris. Bette leaves behind elaborate Christmas stockings she created for all of her grandchildren, the gigantic Christmas cactus she pampered for years, endless violets she resurrected in her flower hospital and memories of wonderful pies, Thanksgiving sauerkraut and summer fish fries. Bette is survived by her four children: Susie Bauer (Rick), Eagan, MN; Judy Blanchard (Alan Glenn), Fairfax, VA; "Norty" Frank Blanchard (Pamela), Burnsville, MN and Bill Blanchard, Minneapolis, MN. She will be missed by her seven grandchildren: Lisa Williams, Joe Bauer, Chris Blanchard, Kelly Netishen, Emily Zinniel, and Elizabeth and Mark Glenn; and her 10 great grandchildren, and special family friend Jessie Klein. A Mass of remembrance was held Thursday, July 25, 2013, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Alexandria, MN. with Father Steve Binsfeld, officiating. The soloists were her daughter-in-law Pam Blanchard and granddaughter, Emily Zinniel, accompanied by family friend Barb Ongna. Pallbearers were her grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Chris Blanchard, Sam Hellevik, Joe Bauer, Mike Williams, Steve Netishen and Kevin Zinniel. Honorary Pallbearers were Lee Backhaus, Sonny, Pat, Paul and Pete Osterberg, Ken Pexsa, and Bill Riggs. Memorials may be sent to Knute Nelson Foundation, St. Mary's Catholic School and the Lakes Area Humane Society.