Earlene Blanken

Earlene Vickery Blanken

January 9, 1930 ~ January 9, 2018

She was born January 9, 1930 in Seminole, Oklahoma and returned to her Lord January 9, 2018 in Ogden, Utah from a cerebral hematoma.  God gave her the ultimate birthday present - Heaven and eternity with her Lord and Savior.

By the grace of God, she was compassionate, caring, giving and loving.  As with most moms, she loved her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, nieces, and nephews.  And possessing the heritage of Adam’s fall, she could be stubborn and judgmental.  By accepting Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, God knew her intimately as He was her creator and He accepted her and will keep her as His own.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from East Central College in Ada, Oklahoma and later her Master’s degree from Utah State University.  She loved teaching and her favorite grades were kindergarten and first grade.  She influenced children in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Utah with her caring, intellect, and concern.  To the day of her passing, she would instinctively want to tie anyone’s untied shoes as she would with her beloved students.

She met her perfect match at Prairie Valley School in Oklahoma while she was a teacher and he was the principal.   After a long courtship, she and Marvin Blanken married on July 11, 1958.  It was a much celebrated union by both families, and they loved to travel and made semi-annual trips back to Oklahoma to visit their families.

She leaves behind her husband of 59 years, Marvin Blanken of Layton, Utah; son Mark Blanken and wife Karin of Mallorca, Spain; daughter-in-law Michelle Verrier-Blanken of Roy, Utah; and daughter, Kathryn Lisby and husband Dale of Kaysville, Utah.  Also feeling her loss are her grandkids Christine (David), Ryan (Anna Karina), Danielle (Bryan), Sarah (Nate) and Matthew; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and church family.

Her son Gary Blanken paved the way to heaven in 1994.  She is also reunited with her parents, Earl and Minnie Vickery; grandparents, Delilah and William McMullin and sister, Delilah Ruth Loy who beat her to heaven by six days.

Those whom she loved and those who loved her remember her concern for family, wanting her hair and eyebrows to look right, loving to balance her checkbook to the penny, her famous vegetable soup, and her love for her Lord.

Thank you to the Layton City Fire Department and Layton 911 Dispatch. We express gratitude as well to the staff at Ogden Regional Hospital and Canyon Home Care & Hospice.

A family visitation will be held January 26, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah.  Funeral services will be held January 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3329 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, Utah.  Friends may visit with the family prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Arrangement entrusted to Lindquist Mortuary, Layton, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local food bank, buy a child a book, volunteer for your local Meals on Wheels, or donate to Habitat for Humanity.