Retha J. Blankenship 77, died, Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at Asbury Park in Newton, Kansas. She was born October 21, 1938 in Nash, Oklahoma to Donald K. and Denzil M. (Turner) Strait.  On May 27, 1955 she married Gary L. Blankenship in Wichita, Kansas and he preceded her in death on December 4, 2002.

Retha worked as a sales associate and stock room clerk at the Newton ALCO for several years. She enjoyed Bingo outings, cooking and making quilts. She created several special birth quilts for her great grandchildren which they cherish.  She and her husband enjoyed yardwork and caring for the flowers and landscape.  Retha enjoyed traveling around the United States on many vacations though the years. Colorado was one of her favorite places to visit.  The most important part of Retha’s life was her family. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother and friend to many. She greatly enjoyed keeping up with her daughters and their families lives.

She is survived by her daughters: Monica Stovall and her husband Jay of Newton, KS, Lori Weis and her husband Dale of Newton, KS and Kathy Lusk and her husband Randy of Mulvane, KS. Brothers: Vernon Strait of Mulvane, KS and Keith Strait of Berthoud, CO. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Retha is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother’s Melvin and Herschel Strait.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 25, 2016 at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2016 at Petersen Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery Newton, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to Victory in the Valley in care if Petersen Fun

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