Blanche Schei

Blanche Helen Schei was born on May 31, 1933 to Frank and Leona [Tegge] Huffman in McIntosh, South Dakota. She was raised on a farm near Elkton, South Dakota where she attended country school through the eighth grade. On December 25, 1949 she was united in marriage to Bernard DeZeeuw at Church of Christ in Brookings, South Dakota. The couple lived and farmed near Elkton until he passed away in March of 1961. Blanche then moved into town with their four children where she worked various jobs. A year later she met Laurence Erickson and they were married August 18, 1962 at the American Lutheran Church in Jasper, Minnesota. The family lived in Ihlen, Minnesota, where they also gave birth to a son. She worked at Ashton Care Center and the Good Samaritan Center in Pipestone, Minnesota as a nursing aide. Laurence died in March of 1985. She continued to live in Ihlen. On December 24, 1986 she married Clifford Schei at his daughter’s home in Huntsville, Alabama. The couple made their home in Magnolia, Minnesota. She began working as a cook at the Pantry Caf for five years and then at Glen’s Food Center and later at Sanford Luverne Hospital. Clifford passed away in May of 1999. Blanche continued to reside in Magnolia and kept active working and volunteering. In April of 2017, due to declining health, Blanche entered the care of Good Samaritan Community of Pipestone, Minnesota. She died there Sunday, July 2, 2017 at the age of 84 years.

Blanche was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Jasper. When she moved to Magnolia, she attended United Methodist Church. She was a hospice volunteer since 2002, and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary and the Luverne Eagle’s Club. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, sewing, embroidering, and relaxing. She especially loved being a part of her grandchildren’s lives.

She is survived by her five children; Leona 'Cookie' Bergin and her husband James of Minco, Oklahoma; Carmen Wells and her husband Robert of New Franklin, Missouri, William DeZeeuw and his wife Marcie of Holland, Minnesota, Robert DeZeeuw and his wife Cindy of Holland, Minnesota; and Michael Erickson and his wife Jolene of Holland, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Bernard DeZeeuw, Laurence Erickson, and Clifford Schei; grandson, Jason Bergin; and great-granddaughter, Samantha Jo Lange; sisters, Alice and Betty; and a brother, Leonard.
Blessed and eternal be her memory.