JD Blehm

In 1944 his brothers were off at war, so JD was called upon (at age 14) to drive the rest of the extended family from Oklahoma to Selah, WA to join his father in a new adventure managing an orchard. JD finished his education at Brookside Academy.

JD joined the Army in 1951 and served until 1986. He retired as Master Sergeant from the MATES Division as an artillery and diesel mechanic, at the Firing Center. In addition to his Army career, JD also learned the trade of construction. He built homes in the 1970’s with a school teacher, George Beetchenow, on nights and weekends. JD could build or fix almost anything. He was very creative and inventive.

JD married Katherine Jochim in September of 1952. They spent 49 years together before she passed in 2001. They raised their family in Yakima, WA. They enjoyed traveling all over the US, and belonged to the Holiday Ramblers Club. Several unique trips they took were the Autumn Leaf Tour on the East Coast of US, and the Caravan Tour, down the Baja in Mexico. JD and Kathy came from large families and shared a similar heritage of being Germans from Russian immigrants. They shared traditions and kept alive the German recipes. In JD’s leisure he enjoyed being active outside, hunting and fishing. In his later years he enjoyed playing pool, and socializing at the Harman Senior Center.

JD married Gladys Blehm in 2008; they made their home in Naches, WA. They enjoyed 7 years of companionship. JD had a very lively gregarious personality; he made and kept friends easily. He will be dearly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ezra and Lydia Blehm; and brothers, Lavern and Verlin Blehm.

He is survived by his wife, Gladys Blehm; sister, Oleta Keightley of Joplin, MO; brother, Kenny SR (Bessie) Blehm of Selah, WA; son, Richard (Cristina) Bullion of Plymoth, WA; daughter, Bonnie (Rick) Andreas of Selah, WA and son, Randy Blehm of Seattle, WA; grandchildren, Crissy (Randy) Weeks of Phoenix, AZ, Dana (Willie) Longmire of Selah, WA, Paul (Carrie) Folk of Phoenix, AZ, Lyndsey Clark of Corpus Cristy, TX, and Michael Blehm of Los Angeles, CA; and eight great grandchildren, Miles and Vada Longmire, Kelley and Jake Johnson, Teegan and Kayden Folk, and Skyler and Bryndle Clark.

Our thanks to Dr. Amanda Ryder for her special care (Dad loved ya), and Kelvin and Michele Garet and Jerod Strocsher (neighbors) who were there for JD in his time of need.

JD had his suitcase packed and ready to go for the next journey after life. A celebration of his life will be at the Harman Senior Center at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, July 24th, 2016. All family and friends are invited. To share a memory of JD visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.