Blanche E. Johnston 1903 - 1998

JOHNSTON, HOWARD, JONES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/23/2014 at 15:27:41

18 February 1998

Blanche E. Johnston, 94, of Onawa, Iowa, formerly of Turin, Iowa, died Monday, February 2, 1998, at Burgess Memorial Hospital, Onawa, Iowa.

Mrs. Johnston was born August 1, 1903, on a farm near Missouri Valley, Iowa, the daughter of Bernard and Maude (Howard) Jones. She attended country school near Missouri Valley and graduated from Missouri Valley High School in 1920. She taught country school at Persia, Iowa, before her marriage on June 22, 1927, to Asa Vaughn Johnston at Missouri Valley. The couple farmed near Turin, Iowa, until moving to Onawa in 1963. Mr. Johnston died November 26, 1965, at Onawa. She had been a resident of Elmwood Care Centre in Onawa.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church at Turin, the Sunshine Circle, Ladies Aid, and a 50 year member of Queen Esther Chapter #222 Order of Eastern Star where she was a Past Matron and Secretary/Treasurer for a number of years. She served as the Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star of Iowa to Maryland.

Survivors include two sons and their wives, Dr. Howard H. and Pat Johnston of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Harold and Claudine Johnston of Onawa; one daughter and her husband, Louise and Donald Wakehouse of Aurora, Colorado; nine grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Mrs. Helen Behr; three sisters, Alice, Verle, and Hazel; and one brother, Dwight.

Eastern Star services were given by Queen Esther Chapter #222 of Onawa on Wednesday evening at the Pearson Funeral Chapel with Worthy Matron Margaret Maule and Worthy Patron James Alexander presiding.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 5, 1998, at the United Methodist Church in Turin with Rev. David H. Wagner officiating.

Mrs. Paul Petersen, organist, accompanied a duet, Mrs. Brady. Hanson and Mrs. Harvey Hanson, in the selections "The Old Rugged Cross" and "In the Garden".

Honorary bearers were Mitchell Behr and Nolan Behr.

Active casket bearers were grandchildren: Doug Johnston, Tim Johnston, David Johnston, Jeff Johnston, Greg Johnston, Richard Johnston, Dawn Alcumbrac, Adam Johnston, Steven Johnston, and Linda Flynn.

Interment was in Belvidere Cemetery at Turin, Iowa, with arrangements by the Pearson Funeral Home, Onawa, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed to the Turin United Methodist Church or Queen Esther Chapter #222 of Eastern Star.