Blanche Bernice Reid

Blanche was born March 12, 1920, the eldest daughter, to Chester William and Dora (Markman) Bennett of Albion, Illinois.

She married Alfred Reid in Albion, Illinois, and to this union they had four children.

Blanche leaves behind a loving son and daughter: Bill Reid of Queen Creek, Arizona, and Donna Theis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a niece and three nephews who adored her.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, daughter Patricia, son Rick, granddaughter Laura Reid, and sisters Norma Strine, Betty Seals, and Virginia Wallace.

Blanche's mind was sharp as a tack and she loved spending time outside and walking every day. She had a positive outlook on life, loved helping others, loved a good joke, and always had a smile on her face.

While growing up, she preferred working on the farm with her father while her three sisters spent time with their mother learning to cook and sew.

Blanche knew she wanted to be a nurse when she was 9 years old when her Grandma Bennett was in the hospital. At 15, she moved to West Salem where she lived with her grandparents while attending high school. She then trained to become a nurse at Ryburn Memorial Hospital in Ottawa, Illinois and graduated in 1942.

She worked as a nurse for one year in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Arizona with her husband, Alfred. She was a nurse at Old Southside in the Mesa area, and later retired from Banner Hospital after 30 years of nursing. She worked all floors, but her favorite was the bone surgery floor.

After losing her husband and retiring, Blanche traveled extensively within the United States and internationally with her widowed sisters, Betty and Virginia. She cherished the relationship with her sisters and all the trips they took together.

In her later years, Blanche lived with her youngest son, Rick, and they traveled in an RV every summer to the Northwest until his passing in December of 2018.

Blanche was a Godly woman and practiced her faith, attending Palm Canyon Church with Mark Ernst as Pastor. She was very active in her church where she was a regular server anytime they had a meal.

In her later years, Blanche moved to Groves Assisted Living in Mesa where she resided until her death.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to all the staff of Groves Assisted Living for the dedicated and attentive care provided to Blanche all these years.

A visitation for Blanche will be held Monday, November 18, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery, 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257, followed by a graveside service.