Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Blankenship, Laura Elisa Wilhelmina  January 20 2005
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K T bluewolf@onemain.com January 25, 2005, 12:58 pm

The Bakersfield Californian 
Laura Elisa Wilhelmina Blankenship
Services: Sat., Jan. 29, 3 p.m.

Laura Elisa Wilhelmina Blankenship, our family treasure, passed away January 
20, 2005, just nine days before her 97th birthday. Memorial services will be 
held at her beloved little chapel at the United Methodist Church, 4600 
Stockdale Hwy., Saturday, January 29, at 3:00 p.m. 

Laura was born in Levasy, Missouri, in 1908. She and her parents lived on a 
farm until the river washed them out. They headed for Oklahoma. It was here 
that 3 girls were added to the family; Leona, Helen and Marie. Laura being the 
oldest became the boy in the family. Many chores on a farm. Farms need boys. 
However, Lauras life changed drastically when the family piled into a model T 
Ford and headed for St. Joseph, MO. Laura was eighteen.

She immediately found employment as a supervisor in a large clothing store. It 
was at this time that she was chosen to be a Breck Girl. Her beautiful natural 
golden blond hair earned her this honor.

Laura became a sharp business woman. She ran a restaurant with a dance hall on 
the second floor: she was area supervisor for a silver company. Her favorite 
job was being a top sales lady for the warm and friendly Urners Appliance 
Store.

Laura loved music. She loved to play the piano but not as much as she loved to 
sing. She sang in the church choirs, played the lead in many light opera 
concerts and sang at an event that changed her life. It was the Passion Play 
held in St. Joseph, MO. The choir was huge, but when she looked up from the 
front seat past rows and rows of singers, her eyes met the eyes of the one who 
would become her husband, Hal Blankenship. They didnt have children but their 
nieces and nephews filled the gap.

Now these are the beloved nieces and nephews: Kathy and Mike Newman, Jillian, 
Koran, Brad, Ben and Abby, Mike and Chris Welty, Gina, Adrian, Katie, and 
Matt; Bob and Claudia Parker, Ross, Sara and Erica; Bill and Charlene Welty; 
Richard Welty, John and Chris Parker, and Patrick; Dave and Beverly Stouffer. 
Other survivors include two sisters, Helen Keatley and Marie Welty; two 
brothers-in-law, Bob Keatley and Howard Welty.

Lauras family wishes to thank all those who gave so much loving support: Her 
beloved church family, Rev. Gafke, Milt Cole, and her many wonderful friends. 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

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