Blanche L. Einhaus, 96, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Blanche was born on Jan. 23, 1923, in Austin, Minnesota, to Elmer and Ruby (McCarthy) Kirkpatrick. Blanche and her brother Chaunce were raised in Austin during difficult family and financial times. Blanche graduated with the Austin Class of 1941 along with her future husband, Lowell Einhaus. During high school, Blanche participated in many activities, but she was especially fond of recalling her days as a majorette for the marching band under the direction of C. Vittorio Sperati. After high school, Blanche worked as an administrative assistant for executives at the Hormel company, Brown and Bigelow in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bankers Life Insurance company in Des Moines, Iowa, and finally in the nursing suite at Austin Community College. She also worked for a number of years as a travel agent with First Bank Travel in Austin, where she enjoyed arranging traveling for customers and traveling herself. After retirement, Blanche loved volunteering at the Austin hospital. Blanche always loved her social life; whether it was bridge club with long time friends, golf with the ladies or dancing with Lowell at the Country Club, the Elks or the Legion, she was always ready to have fun.

Lowell passed away in 1999 after 53 years of marriage. Blanche moved to Owatonna in 2013 in order to be closer to family. In Owatonna, she was always ready to have dinner out on Friday night and visit wineries around southern Minnesota on sunny weekends. This continued after she entered memory care in the summer of 2018.

Blanche is survived by her daughter, Stevana (Donald) Erickson of Washougal, Washington; son, David (Jean) Einhaus of Owatonna; daughter, Sally Einhaus of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and grandsons, Josh (Liz) Erickson of Joplin, Missouri, Andy (Kirstin) Erickson of Flower Mound, Texas, Chris (Lana) Erickson of Camas, Washington, Ben (Erin) Einhaus of Magalia, California, and Andy (Brittany) Einhaus of Seattle, Washington. Blanche also had 10 great-grandchildren, Parker, Payton, Collin, Avery, Hayden, Reid and Dillon Erickson and Joshua, Finley and Madeline Einhaus. She is also survived by nephews, Thomas (Melody) Kirkpatrick and John (Cindy) Kirkpatrick; and niece, Susan (Malcolm) Batt. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lowell; and brother, Melvin “Chaunce” Kirkpatrick.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ecumen Countryside, Ecumen Brooks and the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna. Through her final years, these people treated her with great compassion and respect, always going the extra mile when she was in need of help. We would also like to thank the congregation, staff, especially Jim Oberg, and the note writers of Associated Church in Owatonna for always keeping Blanche in their prayers and treating her as one of their own.

The family will be holding a celebration of Blanche’s life at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Homestead Hospice House Patient Care Fund.