Irene Blank

Irene M. Blank, age 78 of Sauk Centre, died Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at the Fairway Pines Assisted Living in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 9 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Todd Schneider officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the mass at the church.

Irene Margaret Friedrichs was born October 12, 1934 in Ashley Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Leo and Helen (Kulas) Friedrichs. On July 29, 1953 she married Glen "Bob" Blank at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. The couple farmed in Kandota Township, Todd County. Irene was a volunteer driver for Tri-Cap and the Red Cross. She also was a bartender/manager at the Little Sauk Legion and was a school bus driver for Little Sauk. She was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre and on the Todd County Council on Aging. Irene enjoyed gambling, going to the casino, playing cards, and treasured her grandchildren.

Survivors include her five children, Dale "Termite" (Pam) Blank of Monticello, Dean "Aardvark" (Mary) Blank, Dann "Charlie" (Beryl) Blank, Glennis "Tink" Blonigen and Dennis "Bucky" (Sandy) Blank, all of Sauk Centre; ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen "Bob" Blank on April 8, 2006; parents, Leo and Helen (Kulas) Friedrichs; and brothers, Jerome Friedrichs, Gerard "Bud" Friedrichs, and Cyril "Peanuts" Friedrichs.

Serving as casket bearers will be Codie Browen, Camren Blank, Todd Blank, Mike Gardner, Mark Hornick, and Sam Bergstrom. Cross bearer will be Haley Blank and scripture bearer will be Tyler Blank.