Eleanor M Blanchard

                Eleanor Marilyn Blanchard, age 94 of Menahga, formerly a lifelong Park Rapids area resident, peacefully passed into the glorious splendor of Heaven on Friday morning, October 19, 2018, just shy of her 95^th birthday. 

                Eleanor was born on November 7, 1923, to William and Hermine (Tolle) Johanning at her grandparent’s homestead in Henrietta Township near Dorset, MN.  As a two-year-old child, she moved with her parents to a farm on the Hubbard Prairie.  She attended the Doran District #10 Country  School in Hubbard township for eight years before going on to attend high school in Park Rapids where she graduated with the Class of 1941.  Eleanor went on to attend Normal Teachers Training in 1942.  She then taught country school from 1942 to 1945.  On June 21, 1944, Eleanor was united in marriage to Virgil “Stub” Blanchard.  They rented a farm in Green Valley township for two years until buying a farm on the Hubbard Prairie in 1946 which they owned until 2012.  Eleanor worked at a variety of jobs: waitressing, working at Harner’s Corrogated Box Factory, the Badoura Tree Nursery and also working as a paraprofessional at the Dorset and later the Park Rapids Schools for twenty-three years.  In 1985, she retired and she and Virgil became snowbirds for 20 winters in Texas.  Her life was deeply saddened at the death of her beloved husband in March of 2011.  She moved into the Woodside Manor Assisted Living Apartments in 2011 and into the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in December of 2017.

                She will be lovingly remembered by her nephews: Mike Bailey and Allen “Buzz” Johanning and a niece, Claudette Holder as well as other beloved nieces and nephews on Virgil’s side.

                In addition to her husband of 66 years and her parents, Eleanor was preceded in death by her brother, James “Buddy” Johanning, her sister, Betty Bailey and her niece, Kelli Bailey.

                Funeral services will be held 3:00 PM Saturday, October 27, 2018, at the United Methodist Church in Menahga with the Pastor Steve Koehne and Pastor Dawn Houser officiating.  Longtime friend, Frank Lamb will provide the special music.  The casket bearers will be Mike Bailey, Buzz Johanning, Al Holder, Dave Kern, Carl Johnson, and Lester Zentner.  Interment will be made next to her husband in the Hubbard Cemetery.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the services.  Following the funeral, a luncheon will be provided by her friends from the Menahga United Methodist church.