Dorothy May Blanchard

Funeral services for Dorothy May Blanchard, age 96, of Albert Lea will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at Hayward Lutheran Church.  Rev. Katie Fick will officiate.  Interment will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4-6:00 p.m. Friday, August 12^th at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. 

 Dorothy died Monday, August 8, 2011 at St. John’s Lutheran Home.

 Dorothy May Blanchard was born on August 28, 1914 to John "Jack" and Josephine (Carson) Leach in Delavan, MN.    She attended school in Amboy, Delavan, Winnebago and Fairmont graduating in 1933.  During summers Dorothy worked at the canning factory.  On August 3, 1940 she was united in marriage to Arnold Blanchard in East Chain, MN.  The couple lived in Owatonna and while there, Dorothy worked at a bakery.  The couple moved to Albert Lea and together they owned Blanchard Truck Lines where Dorothy worked as the secretary.  She was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.  Arnold and Dorothy enjoyed spending summers at Lake of the Woods and winters in Florida and Texas.  For 17 years they spent one month every year in Alaska also.  After Arnold’s death Dorothy continued to go to Florida and Texas staying with family and friends.  She enjoyed crocheting dish cloths, pot holders and afghans for family and friends.  She will be deeply missed.

 Survivors include her children, Patricia Ann Meister of Albert Lea, Janet (Keith) Iverson of Hayward and Gary C. Blanchard of Tyler, TX; grandchildren, Kyle (Rita) Iverson, Sarah (Troy) Wangler, Meta (Chris) Johnson, Melody (Chris) Hooker, Dillon Blanchard, Emily Blanchard, Valynda Schultz, Jody Woods, and Randy (Carol) Meister; great-grandchildren, Theadora, Simon, Elizabeth, Heather, Kaden, Michael, Jessica, Derek, Jacob, Tylor, Trevor, Nicole, Megan, and Abigail; great-great-grandchildren, Mylee, Kaylor and Bentley; and many nieces, nephews and special friends.

 Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arnold; son, Daniel in infancy; grandson, Adam Blanchard; siblings, Lotis Deegan, William Leach and Marie Leach.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s association or church of the donor’s choice.