Blanche Marie Huffman, 88

Blanche Marie Huffman, 88, passed away at Edgewood Vista, a safe and caring home for people with memory loss, on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008.

Blanche was born at home in Hutchinson, Kan., on Jan. 1, 1920, the youngest of three children born to Charles Ora and Lou Rolla (Snider) Huffman.

Blanche lived in Hutchinson until March 1980, when she moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., to be near her nephews, Galen and Morris Huffman, and their families who lived there. In June, 1984, when her nephews and their families relocated to the beautiful Flathead Valley, Blanche came with them.

Blanche graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1937. She then attended beauty school for one year in 1938 and later, in 1954, Adela Hale Business College in Hutchinson. While in Hutchinson, Blanche worked as a beautician for two years, as a head checker for Safeway for 12 years, five years in the C.O. Mammel Warehouse office, and then as a bookkeeper for KTVH television station, for 20 years.

Blanche enjoyed being a member of the Hutchinson First Church of the Nazarene, where she contributed early on as a part of the youth group, and later as department head of the junior high department, and as a member of the choir, Missionary Society, and church board.

Blanche enjoyed bowling, sewing, ceramics, crafts, and being involved in the lives of her nephews and the children of her friends. She was an excellent caregiver of her parents in the last years of their lives.

While in Colorado Springs, Blanche lived with her nephew, Galen, and his wife, Lynda. She attended Trinity Nazarene Church, participated in league bowling, and was the loving head baby-sitter for the triplets - born in December 1979 - of her nephew, Morris, and his wife, Jenifer.

After moving to the Flathead Valley, Blanche became an active member of the Bigfork Piece Makers Quilter's Guild, being president for two years; the Creston Fireman's Auxiliary, being president for 10 years; and an active bowler.

Blanche did outstanding needlework, including beautiful and complicated quilting (winning awards for her quilts), crocheting, knitting and embroidery. She was able to make a little money by selling her wonderful needlework and different crafts.

She continued to be a happy participant in the lives of Morris and Jenifer's four children and the overall pet baby-sitter for the entire family. Blanche was always an avid watcher of sports on TV. She was a terrific Southern-style cook and baker throughout her life.

To Blanche, family was everything. She devoted her life to the well-being of those she loved. Her family will miss her greatly and take comfort in knowing "she is now home with her Heavenly Father."

Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; her infant brother, Charles Lawrence Huffman; and by her beloved brother, Clarence Albert Huffman.

She is survived by her nephew, Gary Huffman, and his wife, Lilly-Ann, of Wichita, Kan., and their son, Malin Huffman, of Mountain View, Calif.; by her nephew, Galen Huffman, and his wife, Lynda, of Kalispell; and by her nephew, Morris Huffman, and his wife, Jenifer, of Kalispell; Morris and Jenifer's oldest son, Kyle Huffman, and his wife, Colleen, and their two children, Logan and Savannah, of Edmonds, Wash.; and Morris and Jenifer's triplets, Ryan Huffman of Issaquah, Wash., and Erin and Megan Huffman of Seattle.

The family welcomes Blanche's friends to join them at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 1, at Edgewood Vista, 141 Interstate Lane, in Kalispell, as her life is celebrated in a memorial service officiated by Pastor Ed Koteskey of the Kalispell Church of the Nazarene. Blanche's final resting place will be beside her parents and brother, Clarence, at Fairlawn Cemetery in Hutchinson.

Blanche's family would like to express their deep gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Edgewood Vista for the capable, loving care given to Blanche in the last year of her life. Blanche's family felt great comfort and peace in knowing the quality of care being given her there.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Gideons, P.O. Box 1305, Kalispell, MT 59901-0305.