Helen B. Blanchard

Helen B. Blanchard, 90, of Humboldt, passed away September 26, 2015 at the Humboldt Care Center South. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 30th at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt with the Rev. Gene Broughton officiating. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Humboldt. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.
Helen Sorlien, the daughter of Arne and Frances (Halvorson) Sorlien, was born August 28, 1925 at Decorah, Iowa. As a child, she moved with her family to Canton, South Dakota and then to Bode, Iowa. In 1938, the family moved to Humboldt and Helen graduated in 1943 from Humboldt High School where she played trombone in the marching band. She was united in marriage to William Blanchard on June 2, 1946 at the First Lutheran Church in Humboldt. She worked as a teller for the First National Bank until she and Bill started their family.
Helen was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church where she was active in ELCW, served as a Sunday School Teacher, and was a member of the choir. While raising her children, Helen served as a 4-H leader and Cub Scout Den Mother. She was a member of the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Auxilary and served as its past president. She loved to sew and quilt, making beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed camping and traveling with Bill and in their retirement enjoyed bicycling, walking the trails, and playing par-3 golf. She loved to play cards, especially 500 at family gatherings and she and Bill were members of couples club and birthday club.
Helen is survived by her husband of 69 years, William Blanchard of Humboldt; her children, Stephen (Gracia) Blanchard of Coralville, Alan (Maureen) Blanchard MAJ, USA Retired, of Humboldt, John (Debra) Blanchard of Johnston, Dennis (Jill) Blanchard of Roanoke, VA, and Ann (Rev. Mark) Kvale of Sparta, WI; 12 grandchildren, Matthew (Deb) Blanchard, Sara (Jerry) Kilgore, Christopher (Clarice) Blanchard, DDS, Philip (Kylene) Blanchard, Beau (Joanna) Blanchard, Robert (Jill) Blanchard, Billie (Darrel) Inskeep, Michael (Sarah) Blanchard, Michelle Blanchard, Aaron Kvale, Jacob Kvale, and Caleb Kvale; 13 great grandchildren, Mason and Chase Blanchard, Taylor (Joe) Fagersten, Lydia, Gaby, and Owen Kilgore, Kiernan, Kael, Kendrick, Reichen, and Karmyn Blanchard, and Peyton and Reese Inskeep; 1 great-great granddaughter, Charlotte Fagersten; and her sisters, Joyce Larsen of Winterset and Marilyn (Roger) Skatrud of Eau Claire, Wi. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Robert and Arne Sorlien.