Obituary of Rosemary Blankenship

Rosemary Schwisow Blankenship November 9, 1929 - May 20, 2011 Rosemary passed away May 20, 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Nov. 9, 1929 to Jacob and Mary Elizabeth (Adler) Walter, in Mohler, Washington. She moved with her parents to Ritzville when they retired from farming and graduated from high school in 1947. Rosemary married Vern Schwisow in 1948 after attending WSU for a year.Vern passed away in 1966 and Rosemary remarried Joel Blankenship in 1975. Joel also preceded her in death. Rosemary was well known in Ritzville after working many years in the local pharmacies and insurance office. She is survived by her children, Michael Schwisow (Jane); Susan Thaut (Mark) and Sandra Head (Mark) and two stepdaughters, Judy Cogswell (Warren) and Jolene Swain. In the extended family are 18 nieces and nephews, 6 grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren and 17 step great-grandchildren. Rosemary's brothers and sisters, Jacob Walter, Henrietta Plymale, Helen Gullidge, Karl Walter and Viola Jean Lilla have all passed before her. She was a Member of the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville, where she and the other Quilting Queens dedicated thousands of hours to bringing comfort to those less fortunate by making quilts that were distributed around the world. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, May 25, 1:00 p.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville, Washington. Viewing will be Tuesday, May 24th. from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, May 25th. from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville. Memorials may be made in her name to Emanuel Lutheran Church and Hospice of Spokane. Arrangements are in the care of Danekas Funeral Home and Crematory, Ritzville, WA. Please visit and leave a condolence message at www.DanekasFuneralHome.org.