Blanche Konzak

Blanche I. Konzak, age 96 of Sauk Centre, died Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Bethesda Pleasant View Nursing Home in Willmar, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29 at First Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Rebecca Thomas will officiate with inurnment following in St. Paul's Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Blanche Irene Overvig was born June 19, 1917 in Glencoe, Minnesota, the daughter of Joel and Helga (Langlie) Overvig. She lived in Glencoe until 1923 when her family moved to Long Prairie, Minnesota. Blanche was confirmed on October 4, 1931 at Long Bridge Lutheran Church. She attended country school and graduated from Osakis High School in 1936. On November 18, 1940 she was united in marriage to John "Jack" Konzak in Columbia Heights. They lived and farmed near West Union in Ashley Township, Stearns County until Jack passed away in 1974 and she later moved to Sauk Centre.

Blanche was a member of First Lutheran Church since 1940. She was the financial church secretary for several years, served on the church council, was a member of the choir, WELCA, Retiree's Bible Study and enjoyed teaching Sunday school.

Blanche's hobbies included bowling, needlework, raising collie dogs, weaving rugs, playing cards and volunteering at the Senior Nutrition Center in Sauk Centre. Blanche was the Grand Marshall for the Sinclair Lewis Days Parade in 1991 and was also named the Outstanding Senior Citizen for Stearns County. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Blanche will be remembered for her kind heart and compassion for people.

Survivors include her daughter, Rosie (Ron) Peterson of Atwater; two granddaughters, Amber (Nathan) Kahnke of New Prague and Lindsey Peterson of Granite Falls; two great grandchildren, Jack and Charlie Kahnke; sister, Alyce Olson of Sauk Centre; brother, Orville Overvig of Long Prairie; and many nephews and nieces.

In addition to her husband, Jack, she was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Marion Mann, Ruth Hanson and Hazel Ecklund; and brother, Harold Overvig.

Memorials are preferred to Rice Memorial Hospice in Willmar, Minnesota.