Funeral services for Blanche Raschke, 89, of Gregory, were held Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory with Pastor Clark Gies officiating. A prayer service was held Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at the church.
Music was provided by Bob and Starla Dooley, Kathleen Nikodym, Leanne Sinclair, and Barb Dooley.
Betty Shaffer and Inez Kenzy were in charge of registration. Flower attendants were Sue Carley, Kathleen Nikodym, and Darla Jordan.
Casket Bearers were Kerri Cook Huber, Ryan Cook, Riley Cook, Jessica Wingen, Andrew Sinclair, Brock Sinclair, and Blair Sinclair.
Interment was in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery of Gregory.
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Blanche Viola Dooley Raschke was born November 17, 1921 to George and Elsie (Lulf) Dooley on a rented farm southeast of Reliance, SD. She was baptized on October 5, 1922 at the Iona Lutheran Church. She was the oldest of seven children. In the spring of 1922 her parents moved to the original Dooley homestead in Gregory County, where they built a new home. The rest of her siblings were born there. She attended grade school at Lincoln School north of where they lived, Standard School at Iona, and Gregory High School in Gregory, SD graduating in 1939. She excelled in her studies always thirsting for more knowledge. This carried out through her entire life. During her school years she was particularly proud of a little black pony she rode to school. Growing up during the Great Depression presented many challenges. She has told many stories about the dumplings they had for supper that was often their only source of food. One highlight during those years was when her dad brought home a box of oranges given to him by the Rehwinkle Store in Dixon, SD. Blanche boarded in Gregory while going to high school. During this time she participated in 4-H with the guidance of the Rosser's earning the honor of State Health Champion and winning a trip to Chicago for this accomplishment. Following high school she worked at the Rainbow Cafe in Chamberlain, SD as a waitress, giving her first pay check to her brothers, Avery and Harold, for train tickets to travel to Ames, Iowa so they could work for her mom's cousin.
On September 20, 1941 she married Walter Raschke at the Lutheran Church in Jamison, NE and was confirmed into the Lutheran faith on April 1, 1942 in Gregory, SD. They started out their married life farming north of Gregory until 1946. They then moved to Gregory and Walt drove truck and Blanche worked at the Gregory Bakery and for the veterinarian, Dr. Johnson. In 1949 they returned to farming on the Raschke home place north of Gregory. From 1952 to 1959 Blanche worked at the Gregory Times-Advocate for Roy Adams. She began as proof reader advancing to advertising manager and news reporter. She held the position of news reporter twice later for nine months each time, working for Al Herrman. From 1959 to 1966 Walt and Blanche were in business in the states of Idaho, Montana, California, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma in addition to spending some time in Gregory running a portable pelleting machine and trucks.
In 1966 they began operating the George Dooley ranch at Iona, SD which they later purchased. On January 8, 1967 Blanche's sister and husband and two of their children passed away and Blanche and Walt became legal guardians for Glen Cook, 12 years, and Leanne Cook, 3 years. Blanche and Walt then moved to the Cook farm south of Gregory to raise her sister's children. During these years, Blanche had a small dairy herd, was an avid gardener, canning and freezing her bounties, and stayed up late many nights either reading or working on her sewing projects. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Dixon, SD and St. John's Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Confirmation (during a vacancy), and holding various offices in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League at the local and zone level. She rarely missed Monday night ladies bowling league. She enjoyed visiting with the locals and drinking coffee at the bowling alley owned by her brother and sister-in-law, Myrin and Margaret Dooley. In 1979 Walt and Blanche built a house on the Russell place at Iona, SD where they lived and ranched until 1996. They then moved to Gregory where they lived out the rest of their years. Following Walt's death on September 12, 2005, Blanche resided at TLC and Silver Threads assisted living centers. She suffered a fall on January 19, 2011 which eventually led to her death. She passed away at the Gregory Hospital on March 4, 2011 at the age of 89 years, 3 months and 15 days.
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law: Donald (Jay) and wife Bev Dooley of Tea, SD; special nephew and niece and families: Glen and wife Carol Cook of Yankton, SD; Leanne and husband Ed Sinclair of Gregory, SD; Kerri Cook - Huber and husband Matt and their children Devin, Kendra, and Addison Rose; Ryan and wife Ashlee Cook of Fairburn, SD; Riley Cook and Abby Koller of Yankton, SD; Jessica and husband Nathan Wingen and their children Michael and Parker of Vermillion, SD; Andrew Sinclair of Denver, CO and special friend Stephanie Rose of Ann Arbor, MI ; Brock Sinclair of Aberdeen, SD; and Blair Sinclair of Mitchell, SD; sisters-in-law: Margaret Dooley of Gregory, SD; Helen Dooley of Gregory, SD; Violet Raschke of Gregory, SD; Mary Ellen Dooley of Rapid City, SD; and Betty Pharris of San Diego, CA; brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Clarence and wife Carol Raschke of Winner, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Preceeded in death by: her husband Walt; her parents; four brothers: Harold, Albert (Avery), George Francis (Skeeter), and Myrin (Mike); a sister, Elsie Jean Cook, two brothers-in-law: Lyle Cook and Albert Raschke, a sister-in-law, Donna Dooley; and a brother-in-law, Wes Pharris.
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