Irene Blankenship, 105, of Atchison, Kansas, died Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at Medicalodge of Atchison.
    
A memorial service will be held Sunday, January 18, 2015, at 3:00 P.M. in the chapel of the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with Rachel Dannar, officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Vernon Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to services. Memorial contributions are suggested to American Cancer Society and may be left in care of the funeral home.  Online condolences may be left at www.arensbergpruett.com.

Irene was born January 1, 1910, in Madison, Missouri, the daughter of Charles and Della Phillips Kurzhal. She attended school in Brookings and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, graduating from Sioux Falls.

She and Fred Blankenship were united in marriage on June 1, 1929, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mr. Blankenship preceded her in death on August 18, 1947.

Irene was employed Electra Manufacturing Company of Atchison, Kansas, Universal Electric in Colorado Springs, Colorado and from 1957 until her retirement in 1975 she was employed with Atchison Water Company.  Following her retirement she worked as a bookkeeper for Diebolt Clothing Company in Atchison for several years.

Survivors include her daughter Donna (Tom) Norton-Pike, St. Joseph, MO, a son, William (Imogene) Blankenship, Bonner Springs, KS., seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, two step great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter Lola Bradley, and two brothers Willard and Albert Kurzhal.