The funeral service for Blanche Wogen will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Dan Baker will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea and one hour before service at the church. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery.
Blanche died on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, at Ebenezer Ridges Nursing Home in Burnsville. She was 98 years old.
Blanche was born March 5, 1911, in Lake Mills, Iowa, the daughter of Sever and Gunhild (Haugen) Stensrud and attended Lake Mills School. Blanche was married to Mervin B.Wogen on Sept. 15, 1929, in Lake Mills. She had a strong faith and was a member of First Lutheran Church, where she made sure her kids attended Sunday school. Blanche lived most of her married life in Albert Lea. She enjoyed gardening and making apple butter and pickles. She could sew anything having worked at Kennelly Fabric Shop on Broadway.
Blanche was noted for her awesome potato salad, meat loaf and chocolate cake with caramel frosting. Her greatest love was time she could spend with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchild. The grandchildren loved their fun and silly grandmother.
Blanche is survived by her children: Dolores Benbow of Albert Lea, Richard (Judi) Wogen of St. Louis Park, Kathleen Bratvold of Burnsville, Maureen Bliler of Scottsdale, Ariz.; daughter-in-law Delores “Chloe” Wogen of Beaver, Pa.; grandchildren: Steven Wogen, Elizabeth Hulsizer, David Wogen, Brant Storvick, Kristine Brandt, Jeffrey Wogen, Bethany Brazil, Diane McCalley, Michelle Hale, Kurstin Bratvold, Wesley Bliler, Britttany Bliler; 18 great grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one sister, Gladys Schoneman of Clear Lake, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Beatrice Stensrud of Albert Lea, Gladys Biehl of Lake Mills, Iowa, Elaine Nesvig of Goodyear, Ariz.; brother-in-law, Manville Klingbeil of Albert Lea.
Blanche was preceded in death by her husband, Mervin Wogen, in 1990, sons: Roger and Kendall.